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Show That Billiard Hall. Thk Rki'uiilican has no tight on Mr. John Kdwards. It recognizes the many good qualities he possesscss and gives him duo credit. He Is what is generally called a "progressive man," ready to forward the development of the city so far as material enterprise Isconcerned; ho Is said to be charitable charit-able and kind-hearted; he conducts a quiet orderly saloon and is regarded as I a model saloon man. As said above Thk Rki'Uui.ioav recognizes these qualities and has no tight against Mr. Edwards personally, but Tins Rki-uii-i.ican IS against saloons, billiard halls and pool rooms, and when even as good a man as Mr. Edwards seeks to further those businesses beyond tho limits prescribed by laws thatare none too strict, The Rki'Uiu.hjan feels that It could not be true to itself and fail to oppose that encroachment. Mr. Edwards Ed-wards Is now conductltiL' a billiard hall over his saloon and this is In violation vio-lation of the law. Mr. Edwards is not to blame for wanting to push his business, busi-ness, which he undoubtedly believes is legitimate, but the people who believe his business Is damnable aro to blame for not blocking the progress of that business. A former city council Is to blame for granting him permission to violate a law, and In fact that permission permis-sion counts for nothing more nor less j than a Justification In cast) Mr. Ed-, wards should be brought to trial. Tho present city council, all members of j which were elected on platforms pledging pledg-ing a curtailment of saloons and the Improvement of public morals, is to blame for countenancing this open violation of the law. I This council should do one of two things in this matter. It should repeal re-peal the ordinance providing that billiard bil-liard halls shall not be conducted within one hundred feet of a saloon, or it should Instruct Marshal Crockott to Inform Mr. Edwards that that ordinance or-dinance will be enforced In the future, if Mr. Edwards then decides to con-1 tlnuo his hall In the same place as be-1 fore, it becomes the Marshal's duty to I take him before a court. , Thk Iciii'inii.icAN has Investigated I this matter thoroughly and knows j that If Mr, Edwards Is brought before I the court he will lose his case. Tho! ordinance now on the Ixioks Is valid, i and this special permit of the old city I council counts for naught. This per-1 mlt would probably be a Justification of Mr. Edwards' course, and In nil i probability would save hlm the penal ty attached to a violation or the or-tlinance or-tlinance so there need be no fear of great Injury to Mr. Edwards In case tho matter Is pushed. We believe the council is fioncst enough and desires to keep Us election plcdgcs,but It Is not alive to this situation situ-ation and should awake to the enormity enorm-ity of the thing. There Is a principle Involved here and it should not be Ignored. |