The Ministerial Alliance Demands a Closed Town
Tacoma ministers mobilize to pressure Mayor-elect George P. Wright into enforcing a 'closed' town policy, sparking pulpit debates across the city.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Action was taken by the Ministerial alliance this morning in regard to Mayor-elect Wright's attitude on the question of an 'open' or 'closed' town. The members of the alliance are not satisfied with the statements made by Mr. Wright and will endeavor to have him make a declaration in favor of one side or the other. The ministers of Tacoma, regardless of denomination, are anxious that the mayor of this city shall boldly declare himself and take a firm stand in favor of a 'closed' town. So great has been the interest in this question that ministers have spoken of it from the pulpit, and in two churches—the East Tacoma Congregational and the Central Christian—the entire service last night was given up to a discussion on the question, 'Shall We Have an 'Open' or a 'Closed' Town?'
“Both pastors, Rev. John Reid and Rev. H. K. Pendleton, preached strong sermons on the subject, showing the dangers that follow an 'open' policy.”
The 'open versus closed town' debate was the 19th and early 20th-century iteration of modern debates over police discretion, zoning, and moral policing. Ministers exerting political pressure on elected officials remains a classic feature of local civic power struggles.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.