Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-02-27
OBSER VER'S NOTES,

been smothered in its infancy, and
those who feast their souls upon the
slush brought out by such public
Investigations go about our streets
in a mood of disappointment. 1t is
well for the credit of morality that
they are disappointed. Madame
Rumor tells it that this is but the
beginning, and that other similar
scandals may be expected. God
forbid! and yet, when parents APP
pear SO careless and Indifferent over
their children's moral interest, is it
any wonder that we are at times
aroused by startling announcements?
1t has come To pass that home is no
longer an attraction for the young
men and women of our city, but
the street and places of public
gathering are much pre- ferred; and
parents seem to encourage them in
these preferences. Under the pre-
tense of attending the meetings of
a certain organization, which carries
on those meetings To unreasonable
hours, they go from their homes
night after night, often to associate
with those whose thoughts are evil
and moral influence debasing, while
the parent rests at home complacent
in the thought that they are in good
company aud under safe influences.
Young ladies who two years ago
thought 1t proper to be at home at
an early hour in the evening, now
that a place of nightly resort has
been established, do not hesitate to
run the gauntlet, and extend the
limit to the hours of 10 and IL.
The influences of such practices are
not elevating, but to the contrary.
Again, stand with us next Satur-
day evening at the entrance of the
post-office during the distribution of
the mail and see the crowd that will
be gathered there, packed like sar-
dimes in a box. One-half of that
number will be young ladies', and
two-thirds will not receive letter.
Neither do they expect one. Why,
then, are they there? Simply be.
cause it has become a place of
III meeting. The betrayed of past
scandals will not be there. Oh, no!
Society has ostracised them, but the
6etrdyers will be there, and will be
hob-nobbing with others whose
names are fair and characters un-
sulied, but who will recognize their
presence and entertain their conver-
sation. When will society be just
in its condemnation of evil? Fellow
citizens! there is miasma of moral
corruption settling upon our fair
city that should awaken every par
ent and lover Of purity to its danger
and their duty to rise in all their
strength and say. "This far, but no
farther"
What is to be our politics this
spring? Are we to hew close to
party lines, or vii! the sheep divi de
from the goats? In other words,
will the religious, moral, law-abiding
and get-up-and-do-somethingc citizens
organize and put up a ticket and
strike out for general reform all
along the line, or must we be con-
tent with our old established custom
of securing city officers? Whatever
plan is adopted the new election law
makes us hustle. If party nomina-
uons are made, it must be done at
least fifteen days before election,
and the tickets published in the city
papers. If call is made for a
"Reform" or "Citizens" caucus, that
call must be signed by at least fifty
voters, each Of whom must state
under oath his business and resi-
dence, SO il is evident that unless
someone MAKES it his businessT5 go
around and secure signatures 70 a
call that such a caucus will not be
held. If, then, party caucuses are
to be held, We hope the better eIe-
meut Of each party will control
them, and have men nominated who
will at least enforce ahe laws we