The Washington times., 1923-07-03
SIJBIJRBS|N
THR0ES Of
CRUSADE
Citizens Meet to Dsnounce
LaWlessness and Wage
War on Conditions.

Uses to be a bitter campaign to
free Prince Georges county,
Maryland, Of vice conditions,
gambling and bootlegging was
fred last night when $50 repre-
sentative citizens Of the county
met in the municipal building at
Hyattsville and formed an organ
ization to combat lawlessness.
Declare War on Vice.
With the open declaration Of war
against all forms Of 1awlessness in
the county. the gage was thrown
down to high county officials who,
It is charged. have winked at the
prevalence Of gambling, petting par
ties and hootleggfng.
The charge was made by one mem
Der Of the new organization that GER
tain county officials not only are per.
hitting the sale OF Illicit whiskey,
but are actually bootlegging liquor
themselves.
The meeting last night was called
to order by Mayor J. Frank Rushe
OF Hyattsville. Mayor Rushe was
elected chairman; Judge H. J. Moi
fatt. secretary, and Mrs. K. J. Nor
rie, treasurer.
The Rev. J. e. Smith, pastor of
the Christian Church at Landover
and known throughout this section
Of the country as 1.-The fighting
Scotch parSon," was introduced to
the meeting as candidate at the
Republican primaries for sheriff.
If the respectable element" of
Prince Georges county choose 1.-THE
fighting parson" as their chief law
enforcement officer, they will have
elected man who is absolutely
fearless, his friends say.
Past Record.
In seven weeks, it is said, during
which he conducted a rapid.fire
evangelistic service, he cleaned UP
vice conditions in Martinsburg, w.
II want to see that the law is en-.
forced IN this county" said Mr..
Smith. Il want to get after not
only the bootleggers, but the net.
ting parties"
The alleged lawlessness that pre-.
walls in the county, and the laxity
OF offlcials, was the subject of the
informal discussion.
Councilman Ben Brouner, Of
Hyattsville, who has made an ex.
haustive investigation into contli.
tons in the county, startled the
AUDIENCE when he denounced the
States attorney, J. Wilson Ryon.
as being unfit to hold his Job.
Il was a member Of the recent
grand jury at Marlboro" said Coun.
Gilman Brouner, land I am ashamed
to say it was a grand fake. Influ-
ence was brought to bear by the
highest county officials to stifio evi.
dence that should have been brought
forward.
1--WE have officers who are sworn
to uphold the law and they are try.
ing 10 Dreak the law as much as any
bootlegger.
I'VE have men appointed as con.
stables and deputy sheriffs and the
like who are bootleggers in every
sense of the word. The sheriff
deputy sheriff, several consts hlos
and the States attorney are unfit
to hold-office."
The Rev. T. B. Anderson ~
Laurel, declared the town in which
he lives and has his passionate ia
the. "most depraved town have
ever been in"
He cited instances of young nAn
being ruined by the "pernictous in.
fluence of the racetrack and the
bootleggers who ply their nefarious
trade under our very noses"
A solution Of the alleged lawless
condition was advanced by Charles
w. Clagett, Hyattsville town co,In.
sci. He urged the appointment of
county police, who would patrol the
roads on motorcycles.
| G.. w. s. Musgrave, of Laurel
advocated the discarding of party
politics in the November election
and urged the members Of the assoc.
citation to vote for men of their
choice.
! Don't let the scalawag, gambler
and tout run your politics for Won i"
he said.
] Other addresses were made NV
the Rev. j. H. Strong, pastor Of
the Hyattsville Baptist Church. w
A. Brooks, Prof. Patterson, and the
Rev. DIR. Cannon, of the Hyattsville
Methodist Church South.
Mayor Rushe appointed the fol.
lowing committee to draft a plan
of action:
\ G. w. 8. Musgrave, Mrs. H. J.
Paterson, ". A. Brooks, J. Fred
Keefauver and J. II. Blandford.
It was decided to meet every
Monday night in the town hall ct
Hyatt9VfllA until election