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The repeal of the l8th amendmbnt must not bring the return of the saloon or the brothel and <br />its former evils. President Roosevelt warns against itxx against it and right—thinking people <br />and offidials throughout the country should lend their moral support and a prompt helping <br />hand to at once stifle any such developtent. <br />Your committee takes this first opportunity which presents itself thus to express its <br />views on the subject , and to recommend prompt action <br />The pitiful figure who presumes to acir as mayor of the city, backed by his administration <br />mouthpiece, conceives the idea that the suddenly arising night club situation will now avail <br />him the opportunity to rid himself of his board of safety, and finally place the police <br />department in his ooLvinimoompetent hands. <br />It is unthinkable to permit such a calamity to come to the city as the transfer of the <br />control of the police department and all law enforcement agencies at such a time as trhis <br />into the hands of this man as mayor whose known and determined purpose two years ago was to <br />open the city wide to Chicago gambling, liquor and prostitution racketeers. <br />The despicable political influence wlich directed and dominated his course regarding the <br />recent redistricting of the city, and the breakdown of eleotridal inspection, ( and the <br />threatened law suit which never came), now continues brazenly to dominate and dictate in this <br />matter, for political purposes and otherwise, the mayor's every word and every action. <br />Without defending the board of safety, we point out thattthe "court—made board of safety," <br />as insyltingly referred to, is retained in power by court order solely on. account of the law <br />which says it shall not be discharged except for cause. If it is true, as the mayor through <br />his supporter and mo:tuthpiece says, that the board 6f safety has refused to enforce the law, or <br />for any other just cause deserves remorvals that removal can be at once accomplished and no <br />court action in the land can stop or enjoin the mayor from doing so upon such a showing. <br />If the mayor will make such a showing against the board, he will not need, the assistance <br />of the council, such as he asks, to place full police authorlaty into his own hands,, and at the <br />same time into t1ye hands of a political influence which covete,control partly to protect the <br />rent profits which it receives from the night club and beer business for a building it owns on <br />North Main Street. <br />The mayor has had ample time to have ordered the preparation of an ordinance for submission <br />to the council tonight emobodying needed liquor regulations. We have a rightt to assumes, in <br />view of the propaganda forthcoming on the subject which he has sanctioned and encouragedsthat <br />such an ordinance will be forthcoming tonight* <br />If the mayor, as the executive head of the city, fails in this duty, or unless a councilman <br />introduces-an ordinances then we recommend that the city attorney be ordered-at once to prepare' <br />an orctinance and submit it without delay to the council, which shall prohibit debasing dances <br />and entertainments in places where liquor is sold., provide for the closing Cc such places at <br />a proper hour, the prevention of sale to minors, including license feature with power-af XZXZXX <br />revocation, and such other provisions deemed necessary or proper* <br />An intelligent and self—reppectitigr,,public probably knows that ano such insulting, brow- <br />beating tactics as employed ny the partizsan political influenowhioh dominates the mayor could <br />possibly be expected to affect the council in the pr@pgrperformance of its duty; that the chief <br />V <br />effect of such a line of conduct is merely to further disgust an already long—patient public.. <br />with such tactics. <br />As interested as the people of 98ut1h Bend must be in seeing that its i#terests are safe- <br />guarded, we believe that they desire effprtl to this end to be divorced wholly from politics, <br />and free frown unnecessary insult to a board of safety and chief of police. We be believe that <br />the merchants of this city, whose trade is at stake, can hardly relish the besmearing of-,the <br />city's reputation by exaggeration and by prominently publishing that the city-is notorious for <br />its sinfulness*' <br />Under any circumstances we think the public should be informed that this council will <br />not be bludgeoned into any course of action which will tend in,the least to place law entforce- <br />ment control of the city into the hands or under the domination of this pernicious, political <br />J <br />( 2 See page 228) ­', <br />A <br />