Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-03-26
The Dance House.

council Monday evening petition was
presented praying that the dance halls
be closed, and it will be observed by the
minutes that the request was not
granted. A heated discussion then fol-
lowed between Rev. Nelson spokesman
for the w. G. T. q. committee and the
mayor and aldermen, whereupon Mr..
Monheim took occasion to inform the
committee that if they desired the places
referred to closed, they could proceed
according to the law made and provided
for such cases.
The document submitted to the coun-
Gil was the result of the labors of the w.
G. T. u. assisted by Messrs. Nelson and
Follansbee, and contained large per
centage of the signatures of the better
class Of people of Sturgis and vicinity,
but unfortunately not as large pro-
portion of the names of the business
men Of the city as was desired.
Their failure to secure the endorsement
of greater number of Of the merchants
was due in measure to the demands
set forth in the petition and largely to
the manner in which they were APP
preached. The intention of the COM
mittee was good and commendable, but
they lacked experience in handling a
subject of SO great importance. In
stead of demanding the dance halls be
closed at once, they would have met with
almost universal success if they had petit
toned the council TO reissue licenses
April to no one that would run dance
house i'm connection or a variety with
box-stall attachments; and under no
circumstances should they have circu-
lated the blacklist document or threat
ened to boycott anyone. This step was
serious blow to their cause, but even
admitting that to be true the most med
dlesome, fossilized ''old granny" in the
community would never have made such
an egregrious error at the outset by al
lowing dance house to be opened in
the heart of the city.
1t is fact long since established that
the dance hall, or more pointedly speak
ing, house of i'll repute, is nucleus
around which an element finds shelter
that is neither profitable nor desirable to
town; it is an element that has neither
capital nor enviable reputation at stake;
an element that represents neither moral
ity nor commendable enterprise; an ell
ement whose interests in a community
are measured wholly by the success il
has in praying upon the prostitution oil
humanity. Yet this is the element the
mayor of Sturgis fosters and protects
contrary to the expressed wishes of the
better class of people Of the city and ir
defiance of the most radical and severe
law that ever found place upon the stat
ute books of any commonwealth. In
adopting the policy he has in this mat
ter, Mr.. Monheim has assumed a re
sponsibility that may prove a very ser
ious affair with him both as public ser
want and as an individual, besides tn,
dignity of the state has been buried il
iniquitous oblivion. There is no doubt
however, but what the mayor is nov
quietly wrestling to free himself from
this baleful imbroglio, but the commit
tee may act upon his advice and test tn
matter in the courts, where he will him
self be the most conspicuous figure. /
they do not, they lack the nerve tn
ADVERTISER gave them credit of having
! Max Blatt was elected Tuesday even
ing by the department as chief of thu
fire department. of Sturgis to fill the va
cancy for the unexpired term, caused b,
the resignation of G. e. Hair. There i
number OF matters that need the i'm
mediate attention of the chief and th
boys believing that Mr.. Blatt would &C
| promptly in the premises, without fear Q
/ favor, is the reason they conferred thi
, honor upon him.
) Hon. w. e. Putnam returned Satul
} day morning, accompanied by Mrs. Put
nam and children who spent the winte
, at Scribner, Nebraska. Mr.. Putnar
, made an honest, hard working represer
tative and returns with good RECORD
On the 7th Of February the little famil
, circle was increased by the arrival of
, fine daughter, OF which both w. q. an
Mrs. Putnam have reason to feel proud
! The Minnesota Star gives an accour
) LOT the recent discovery Of the skull of
! woman, supposed to have been about /
years old when death occurred, and say
] the CHASTITY find is evidence that fol
! deed was committed in that county nj
i long since and that the guilty partit
! will probably soon be apprehende,
J The body Of the victim was not found.
A new ordinance will 30 into effe,