Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-21
THE SOCIAL EVIL,
Answers TO 'sFair-PIay- by Two Grand
Jurors-The Absurdity and Impos-
sfbility or His Plan for Re
cording the Names OF Hab-
itues OF BagniOs-
The Proposition to Tax the Fair but
FraiI Ones Purely Defensive
Measure. to save them from
Police Raids and Police
Fines and ExactiOns.

grand jury upon InaI INSTITUTION, ana pro-
pounds some interrogatories to them, and in
yites an answer to the same through the COL
umns of your paper. The grand jury having
adjourned sine die, of course any response l
would make would not be &c cdthedrd; but,
as one of the jurors, believing that, from the
discussions had in the jury-room, l under
stand their views and opinions, | will attempt
to answer for them. Fair Play" emphasizes
the term necessary, which the grand jury
used only as familiar term-often used with
reference to the evil without in the least COM
hitting itself either pro or con. as to its fu
ture-their purpose being solely to call atten-
ton to the institution, and make such sug-
gestions as occurred to them feasible and
practicable to rid society of some of Its most
features. Now, L might take a
new departure, and enter broader field of
discussion; say that the evil has palliating
feature; that it does, to some extent, protect
virtue; in other words, without it such in
stances as are referred to in Ohio would
doubtless be of more frequent occurrence.
This seems paradoxical, but believe that it
is nevertheless true. These views, however,
are my own. / don't know that the grand
jury would ratify or approve them as body.
Whether the fact that some good resulting
from wrong would entitle it to be consid
cred a necessary wrong, we leave to such
and philosophers as Fair
Play to determine. While the grand jury
dlscaims any intention to Cypress these I'M
and recognize the fact that they
are members of the human family, that our
Savior treated them with consideration, yet,
at the same time, we recognize another fact,
that society has rights that demand protec-
ton, and believing that this could be done by
judicious legislation, without resortIng to OPP
preston, we ventured the suggestions that
in our report. Fair Play" seems
to think that to tax them would be oppressive.
We would not favor a tax for revenue, but
sort of Incidental tax, to reimburse the city
for policing and regulating these institu-
tons. But" says Far Play" 'the
the evil should pay the tax" Now, if Fair
Play" understood the mOdus Operandi of the
institution he would know that this tax
would be paid exclusively by the identical
parties he suggests. Again he says that if
all men were celibates, and would control and
govern themselves, that this evil would be
suppressed. This is evidently true, but what
do impracticable. theories amount to in deal
ing with subject that needs practical
remedy? Could ''Fair Play" or the grand
jury, or both, change the order of creation,
the nature, instinct and passions of man? If
not, then 1t is supererrogation to discuss such
impracticable theories. We find in the days
of Solomon and the patriarchs, many of whom
stood high In the favor of our Savior, that
THESE NlOldGIOns Vi law were openly COM
mitted. "Fair Play" asks whether there are
not more of the male population engaged in
this nefarious business than females. | an
swer Yes, and | thank God that it is so, for
have always been taught to reverence women
as something but little removed from the
angels-tender, pure, and spotless as the
snow, intended to be examples to man, to
shed her soft and refining influences over
him and curb his wild and grosser nature.
But what has this to do with the objects
sought to be accomplished? Does it estab-
lish the fact that it is not an evil? If every man
in christendom were full hedged devotee at
the shrine of this evil, would not our virtuous
women be entitled to protection from daily
contact with it? Would not our property
owners be entitled to protection against the
inevitable shrlnkage in the value of property
in proximity to these institutions !?
But, suggests Fair Play" he has a plan
that will knock the bottom out of the whole
thing; well, what is it? He says: Register
the name of every visitor, occupation, age,
married or single, and let the record be pub
lie, open to inspection, etc. How superbly
ridiculous! l can't believe that he IS serious.
will illustrate its utter futility by his own
case. He hurls the gauntlet in defense of
this institution, sort of champion of their
rights, but modestly declines to affix his real
sign manual or give his name to the public.
Why does ne sign himself g Fair Play ?''
Does he not know that this is an era of
aliases? GRAND JUROR.
The Necessary Evil by Another Grand
Juror.
EDITORS APPEAL-The APPEAL of a recent
date has an article, signed Fair Play" COM
menting pretty lengthy on the suggestions of
the grand jury upon the question of the
necessary evil, as it pleased to call it.
will state at the outset that am not in the
habit of writing articles for publication, but
feel it my duty to answer, In part at least,
Fair Plays" bold charges. The very first
Is a necessary evil to protect our wives and
daughters from insult upon the streets, and
from the fact that it has been prevailing
evil from the beginning of time almost; and
l cannot see that 1t can be entirely expunged.
Let US legislate it into bounds In which 1t will
do the least harm to society and no more to
these unfortunates. The plan suggested by
Fair Play" to have cast-iron woman to
register the names, etc., of men who visit
such places would be complete farce Don t
any one know that men who would visit those
houses would not give their correct names.
What good would then be accomplished?
None whatever. The cast-iron book-keerer
would be just like a bump on a chunk. Now
as to the oppression of taxation, as
proposed by the grand jury. 1t would
do this, good it would help pay our
wrings from the pitlable beings as much
and more than the taxes would be, and does
the public no good. Now as to who would
pay those taxes. Virtually, l will illustrate.
If l own lot and house on which eight dol
lars per month would compensate me, and l
rent it for ten dollars per month when taxes
on the same is one dollar on the hundred; but
suppose the taxes are raised to three dollars
on the hundred, l then charge fifteen dollars
per month for my house, who pays that tax
Why, most assuredly, the tenant. So you
see that it does not Cypress the women, since
the men pay the taxes indirectly. As to the
queries propounded by ''Fair Play" to the
first | would answer: 1t was not our business
to ascertain the number of bad men and
women in the city. l am one that believes
that truly virtuous women, If she conducts
herself properly, cannot be seduced, and if a
man attempts force, she has protection; and,
| say further, would advocate the gallows
for the man that would attempt to force the
seduction of helpless woman. | suppose
as near as | ever came to havIsg my life
taken-and have fought through a score or
more battles-was by defending q
lady upon the streets of Macon, Georgia.
After referring to Christ and the woman
brought to him by the Pharisees, who had
been taken in adultery, Far Play" asks,
Are the twelveJurymen In that sinless state 2
| can place my hand on my heart and affirm,
before my God, that l have never known any
woman except those have been legally joined
to. Now, as to combining them to certain local
tiles. IL removes them from where they come
in daily contact with our wives and daughters
and sons, too. | have resided about nine
years in the city, and l know of three girls
who, when l first came to the city, were,
suppose, ten to twelve years of age, of poor
but respectable parentage. | knew them
well, because l saw them almost daily; they
were sent to the store where l was clerking
for groceries, and there being two of those
houses in the immediate neighborhood of the
store, they saw and met with those women,
dressed in their gaudy attire and making
Furnishing displays on the street. until / have
no doubt they were by that led into the same
path OF these poor unfortunates, see one
passing out and into these houses; one has, |
understand, gone to st. Louis to lead the
same life, while the third, l have
been informed, and have good reason
to believe, has been reformed, for which no
one is more rejoiced than l. There was
nothing that presented itself to the'late grand
ury that caused more thought and reflection
than what to suggest as to this evil. AS a
fact it does exist, and, believe, it will con-
tinue to exist, without the intervention of the
omnipotent God himself. hope that Fair
Play will suggest some better plan to dis
pose of this necessary evil" As for my in
dividual part, would be rejoiced to know