The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-01-08
CITIZENS CAN
FORCE CLEANUP
Former District Attorney
Symmonds Says People
Are Responsible.
BIBLE CLASSES VOTE
Four Bible Classes, Hearing
Address, Go On Record as
Favoring Cleanup.

Calling upon the Christian citizens
of Kenosha and Kenosha county TO
cooperate in a movement which would
result in a cleanup Of vice conditions
in Kenosha county; Frank 5. SYM
monds, former district attorney OF
Kenosha county, in an address delivered
before the Fellowship Bible Glass of
the Park Avenue M. e. church Sun
dav morning outlined what could be
done to bring about more respect for
law enforcement in the county. Mem
bers Of four Bible classes at the
school heard the address, the Friend
ship Bible Glass, composed of women
Of the church and a young mems
class and a young ladies' class accept
ing the invitation Of the Friendship
Bible Class, composed Of men, to hear
the address.
All of the classes endorsed the
movement for "a cleanup by passing a
unanimous resolution upholding the
principles laid down in the address.
This is the second step towards a
cleanup which has been taken by the
Friendship Bible Class; two weeks
ago after a discussion of the condi-
tions led by w. D. Richards, teacher
of the class, resolution was adopt
ed offering support to District At
torney-Elect Lewis w. Powell for en-
forcement of the laws and suggesting
that more drastic steps be taken IT
this failed.
Up to the Public.
Attorney Symmonds emphasized the
need of united action to gain bet
terment of law enforcement conditions
in the county. He said in part as fol-
lows:
ct is not within the power of any
one person, single-handed, to correct
the conditions Of lawlessness which
are gaining ground so fast in Keno
sha county. Until the public is advis-
ed as to the real conditions existing
in our city and county, we can expect
no improvement. Public sentiment,
however, may be aroused, even by the
act of one citizen in investigating the
real conditions. Such an investiga-
tion ought necessarily get other good
citizens aroused, and thus form a nu-
cleus in the creation of a public de-
mand for law enforcement. However,
the great difficulty is to obtain intelli-
gent cooperation among the Chris
tion citizens. AS l view it, from my
long experience in dealing with the
question of law enforcement, / am
persuaded that the responsibility for
the lack of law enforcement, lies
largely with the Christian people of
our city.
"One of the most encouraging cir
cumstances that has come about in
Kenosha for many years is the recent
formation of a ministerial associa-
4ion. This ought to gladden. the heart
of every Christian citizen of our COM
munity, for it indicates unity among
our churches. How could we expect
in the past to accomplish any great
amount of real lasting good when our
churches refused to cooperate with
each other? / trust that the forma-
ton of this association is but the
forerunner of future cooperation
among the Christian churches of our
city, in graphing with matters of
such great Importance to the welfare
of every citizen. We have a right to
expect from this association a con-
solidation of the power latent in ev-
cry congregation represented. With
one hundred loyal Christian citizens
united in common purpose, Kenosha
county could be placed on the map as
being one of the foremost counties
of our state in the matter of law en-
forcement.
Must Act for Cleanup.
"If Christian living and church
membership mean anything to us, they
should call forth a spirit of willing
service in this matter of law enforce
ment. Christian living must neces-
sarily embrace service to our fellow
men, and in this sense, it becomes the
duty of every man who has the well
fare Of his fellow men at heart, and
especially every Christian man, to
have a sincere desire and Willingness
to serve in whatever capacity he can,
in bringing about proper spirit of
lcw enforcement. The real Christian
is the best kind of citizen. That is
the reason why the churches should
be. the ones most interested in law
enforcement. Jesus Christ loved men,
loved to mingle with them, loved to
have them interested in each other.
We can do no less than follow his
example. The man who is not will
ing to give of his time and means to
the lettering of conditions in Keno
sha, is not willing to carry out this
spirit of Christ. We must be willing
to do service and make some sacrifices
if we are going to accomplish things
worth while in Kenosha.
sour forefathers, when they con-
ceived our Constitution, were then
and there facing situation which
brought them in direct touch with the
source of all wisdom. Every one at
the time of the signing of the Consti-
tuition was persuaded, as one of them
remarked, that Il they did not hang
together, they would hang separately.
ssa union there is strength, and the
colonists realized this after all their
severe experiences. Our Constitution
is an inspired document, conceived
and written at time that brought
our forefathers face to face with God
They were men of prayer who had an
abundance of faith, backed up with
action, even to the willingness to lay
down their lives if necessary. Just
as sure as we never would have had
a free country, had it not been for the
Christian leaders in the founding of
our government, just as sure will we
never have a better and cleaner Ke-
nosha until Christian citizens see and
act on the responsibility which the
Almighty has always placed upon