Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1913 — REMINGTON NEEDS A GOOD CLEANING [ARTICLE]

REMINGTON NEEDS A GOOD CLEANING

At Least if Kditor Bartoo is Right in His Suspicions—Raps One 7 ..' . ~ :SL 7 V. Hi ... .iLn,« Remington Press. A man went staggering down the street one day this week in sueh a condition that he could scarcely keep on the sidewalk, and was rubbered and geered at by a crowd of spectators from both sides of the railroad. Of eourse, he Was not drunk. Oh, no, not at all. Entirely out of the question in this dry (?) community. Very likely he had been drinking rain water and It had soured on his stomach. This brings up the subject of boot-leg-ging in Remington and while we are not in a position to state from actual personal experience that there is any such going on; yet there is enough evidence almost any day to convince any honest man that there is plenty of liquor being sold or “given” away or being “found” right here in Remington. Another thing, where there is smoke arising there is bound to be some fire, and where drunk men parade the street and whisky bottles abound in the back yards and alleys it is quite as evident that the source from whence they came is not more than a million miles distant. Then of course there is the possibility that the bottles labeled ‘Whisky” never contained anything stronger than a mild dilution of scented rosewater, which some men use to change the odor of their breath from the natural to the unnatural yea, even to that which partaketh of the perfume of the distillery and brewery. If we had our way the gentleman above referred to would have landed in the cooler and given an opportunity to tell the grand jury just where he got that particular jag. As it is, Remington has the reputation of being the widest open town, both as to whisky and poker playing, of any town between the state line and Logansport, in spite of its boasted dryness. If Jasper county had one certain officer who thought one-half as much about his duty as he does about Some other thing, and tried half as hard to keep corruption down as he does his reputation for being a "good fellow,” such a condition would not exist in Remington. If there is no way to stop this kind of business then we had better repeal our option laws and go back to the open saloon—in that case it was easy to tell where a man stood. But the people can stamp this out if they will However, this is not aimed at any certain man or men; but as it is the “hit dog that howls” if we hear from this We will know who the guilty parties are. The following article criticising Prosecutor Longwell is also taken from the Press: "We have often wondered if Jasper and Newton counties really had a prosecuting attorney any more. We believe there was one elected, but whether or not he ever took his office or is filling some other position is questionable Anyway he has passed up Remington to a fare-you-well in the past four years, even after having been invited to come and investigate things that should not exist.” In part the articles are unjust to the officials mentioned. It is the part of neither the sheriff nor the prosecuting attorney to play detective and it would be quite impossible for these men to know anything about the conditions referred to unless some one in Remington put them wise. It is also quite certain that following a public notice they are going to be mighty careful and on the watch for the officers. It is the duty of Remington people to get the evidence and then call for the prosecutor. There are enough good people in Remington to put a stop to the evils that the Press points out And they should do it without delay. They will find Prosecutor Longwell and his deputies relentless in their prosecution if they will procure the evidence. Some years ago about the same reports came from Remington add a special prosecutor, George E. Hershman, was appointed, but he came back empty handed after spending some time in Remington. That conditions grow bad unless the good citizens keep busy there is no doubt, but the sheriff or the prosecutor would have a hard time finding the guilty parties unless some one is prepared to swear out a search warrant or can procure other evidence.