Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-17
DAILY RECORD UNION
MONDAY u.Rcu !, 1900.
In OUR local columns Yesterday ap

IN OUR local columns yesterday APP
peared an account OF dive of the most
dlsreputable character that is run within
pistol shot of the police station, in the
very business heart Of the city. 1t is of
an order that directs its efforts to the de-
moralization Of young men and the cor
ruption OF boys and girls. 1t appears that
no real efforts have been made to suppress
it; that such action as has been taken was
in the nature of a formal order of warning
only; that mere children in short clothes
are lured into the place, where they are
given liquor, made drunken and encour-
aged to engage in orgies of bestial charac-
ter. The yilest and most shameless class
of women known to civilization congre
gate in the place in half nudity, and prac-
tice their wiles to the corruption of bows
of twelve and fourteen, and girls of even
tenderer years. That the capacity of
skilled reporter was unequal to describing
the degradation and the bestiality of the
place within the confines of expression fit
for the columns OF a respectable journal.
must be accepted upon our statement.
What sort of police management have we.
that such shames as this can exist for an
hour? If we are told that evidence can
not be secured Of the unlawful practices of
the keepers of the hole, how is it that
reporters can sc and find proofs nightly TO
which the police are apparently blind?
If we are told that the police cannot
lind mere children drunk in the place. or
receiving liquor in the hole, how is it that
every one except the police has knowledge
that such is the fact? Why is such den
given license at all. since it is within the
power of the authorities to refuse it-and
they would do so in a moment if the Chief
OF follee reported to them the true char
acter OF the dive. We are about to have
a new administration of the Police De-
pariment. Let it be hoped, in the face of
the pledges upon which the new Chief of
P'''ice vas elected, that reform will ac
company the advent of the new head of
the Department. Let us hope that he will
cut loose from the Department all inhu-
ences that have tended to make it blind to
such shames as that referred to. and several
others about as bad If ever there was
need for new broom in police circles, it is
now apparent
Since the foregoing was put into type
the police have closed the dive. The
question remains, why was it not done be-
fore the press took up the matter?
THE st. Louis Globe Democrat thinks
Gtah's chances of admission into the Union
have been greatly improved since the Salt
Lake City election. There can be no
doubt of that. Every blow given to DO
lygamy and 10 the autocratic ambition of
the Church 10 be first In the State i'm
proves the chances of admission. No one
OF the Territories has SO large population
as Utah. Not one of the new States inst
admitted was so well equipped for State
hood as Utah. Save for the blight of
Mormonism, considered in its civic ca
pacity, Utah would have been made
State years ago. 1t has row nearly 25O.-
COO inhabitants, mainly industrious and
thrifty people. Il has an immense area of
land under a high state of cultivation.
thanks TO Mormon perseverance and
economy; it has many large towns, and
capital that is surprise in all respects
that are favorable to growth and perma-
nency. Bnt just as long as half, or more
than one-half OF the people. of the Terri
tory hold their allegiance to the Mormon
Church 10 be superior to their duty to
Obey the laws, Utah should not be adj
mitted to the Union, because in her indie
pendenee with Mormon majority she
could make the abolition OF polygamy
matter of immense difficulty, and, indeed.
of doubtful accomplishment.
1.