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Show Straight Talk In a desperate attempt, and let us hope a final one, the Ministerial Association represented represent-ed by iDishop F. S. Spalding, the Rev. Ward Winter Win-ter Reese, the Rev. J. H. Mitchell, the Rev. R. F. Dronson, the Rev. F. O. Leonard and the Rev. C. F. iMurphy, played another card on Tuesday in the campaign thoy are waging to make people fill up their churches whether they want to or not. In a ludicrous address to the mayor of the city and the county attorney they demanded that all cafes be closed at once, asserting that tho laws were being disobeyed and vice was being protected. It is doubtful if the citizens committee in charge of the go-to-church movement, a committee com-mittee which Is most sincere, anticipated such a coup from the psalm singers. Had they in tho beginning of their campaign it is hardly probable prob-able they would have worked so hard to fill tho churches for these men on a certain Sunday during dur-ing tho month, churches the men cannot seem to fill themselves, not because the people do not want to go to church, but because they Want to hear something worth listening to when they do go there, and also want to feel that the one who is preaching is sincere. Can you see Henry Ward Beecher starting a campaign on account of lack of numbers in his congregation? Can you see any self-respecting dignified clergyman doing -what these men are doing when there is so much good to be done, so much help needed always? Were it not for the fact that they seem so vicious in their campaign for free advertising, the members of the Ministerial Association would bo objects of pity. What is the matter, brethren, has the dwindling exchequer which is affecting so many industries during the Wilson administration adminis-tration extended to your trade and do you find it a matter of absolute necessity to continue your asinine attacks on a city that could do much better bet-ter without you, but which in the meantime is providing you with bread and butter? You are certainly a fine cluster of psalmists, posing as soul savers and inflicting on a peaceful community com-munity a weekly diatribe or two based on such ignorance of real conditions that you are earning earn-ing the contempt of every broad-minded citizen. Tell us the secret of it all, ibrethren. Is it the consuming desire for the spotlight of notoriety that is guiding you? Is it an impelling mercenary mercen-ary spirit which rises within you when you think of your empty benches and the crowded oafes? Or if neither, please show that honesty of purpose pur-pose is behind your unfair statements and the methods you employ in your attempts to hurt this city locally and in the eyes of those who are watching from the outside. This is Holy week in the Lenten season, the week when Episcopal ministers at least should be able to find enough to occupy their time in their ovvn churches without going out of the way to stir up trouble. We think we remarked onco before that the Spalding-Reese branch of the Episcopal church must be a new institution unheard un-heard of by tho parent body. That was two or three years ago and neither of these two worthies worth-ies has done anything since to make us change our opinions. The Ministerial Association has been In exist- " enco in this city for a number of years and we invite any one of its blatant members to tell us of any real good they have accomplished in a public way since it came into existence. It has been nothing but a trouble maker in civic affairs. It has stirred up enmities where none existed before, and so far as real Christianity is concerned it has done more harm than good ever since it was formed. The thing for its members to do if they really wish to draw a crowd and at the same time get in the category where many good citizens' think they belong, is to announce a witch-burning every evening after services, the victims to be selected by lot and a suitable admission charged in order to pay for the faggots. Such exhibitions would empty many of the theatres and cafes and. would undoubtedly draw a large number of citizens within earshot. Amen! The opera bouffe being conducted by the Herald-Republican and Tribune in their fight over street sales is one of the most amusing spectacles of the new year and some of the commissioners are joining in the chorus in a way that shows just how big they are and how much time they have to waste when matters of more Importance should engage them. It is doubtful if any commis- sioncr or anyone olso cares how many news stands there are on the streets or how many papers are sold, though the controversy Is of seemingly vital importance to the papers mentioned above. Of course, certain commissioners would not have been interested in the news stands had their interest not been prompted by newspaper friends, but under such stimulus It was necessary for one or two of them to get into sudden action. If those commissioners had a desire to deal out exact justice jus-tice to all they would see to it that any newsboy who wants to sell papers shall bo allowed to without with-out molestation from any cf the factions In control con-trol of the street sales, rather than taking sides with a favorite paper in an effort to minimize the sales of either. The petty controversy regarding the recent trouble between the newsboys would not havo been complete had not Chief Grant rushed into print with his version cf what happened in the arrest of one of the young men. It is up to him to reciprocate whenever possible for the palaver that decorates the columns of the editorial page conducted by his favorite author and far be it from the chief to desert such a good friend. He is always loyal to good friends, a3 witness', his old friend of former days the ex-gambler who is his desk sergeant. Ah! those were happy days before the duties of ofilcial life made a purist pose necessary. Then in the dear old Merchants' club all was serene and quiet and beautiful except for the rattling of the chips and the occasional crash as a capper dropped a tray of glasses. Then gambling was wide open and houses of prostitution were known as houses of prostitution and not as strictly respectable hotels. Of course, no gambling goes on now and unfortunate women do not ply their profession.' We were assured of this in the chief's annual report and his favorito author gave us the further assurance that the chief was correct, so there can be no question about it. The Donnelly affair which came up in advertently advert-ently in tho city commission was a bit cf a faux pas, but that has long since been forgotten and of course, nothing wrong has been going on since at the Donnelly house. You would know about it, chief, of course, from your purity squad, if anything out of the way took place anywhere and possibly the crowds of drunks and others that dash In the Donnelly and similar places now and then only go to see what might have been. We have been waiting with interest to see a detailed account in the columns of the dallies of the informal litle affair which took place at the colored club a few mornings ago In which a colored col-ored gentleman was nicely carved in the face by a colored lady, the whole thing being kepi so quiet that nobody has heard anything about it, that is nobody of consequence. We naturally suppose, chief, that if you or any of your men had been informed on the subject, something would have been done about it immediately and it is real strange that you have not heard, for it has been town talk for a week or two, owing to the viciousness of the affray. How beautiful it is to live in a city where all is peace and purity, and where no crime exists or, if it does, some newspapers don't hear of it and those that do refrain from telling the horrible circumstances to their readers. A little thing like a cutting affray does not amount to much, however, and it would not do to close a dive of any description, no matter what its menace to the public good might bo if those who are collecting the rents are receiving them regularly and the people conducting the joints give positive assurance as-surance that nothing wrong goes on in them. What do you think about that theory, Mayor Park? We understand you are the police commissioner. |