The morning call., 1892-08-02
A PROBLEM TO Be SOLVED.
What TO Do With the 1900 Women
in the City Dives.
The Question Discussed by the Presbyterian
Union-The Churches Doing Nothing for
the Suppression Of the Evil.

ployed in the dives of the city" There was
small attendance, including three minis
tiers from distant places. 1t was explained
that this was due to most of tho pastors be-
ing taken up with the Mills revival ser
vices. Rev. Joseph L. Scott presided.
The meeting was opened with devotional
exercises.
On motion of Rev. w. f. Smith IL was de-
cided to discontinue the meetings till after
the clOse-of the Mills revival meetings.
Mr.. Smith then opened the discussion on
the dive question. He said he had not
prepared paper. There was no question
but that there existed an evil in the city
couspicuously located and strongly en-
trenched. BE referred to the dives. The
problem was how to eliminate, uproot or
destroy this evil which is corrupting the
yonth of this city. Ordinarily the church
channels should be sufficient, but in this
instance they did not come near enough to
be of effective service. The churches did
not come in touch with the dives. Possibly
the Salvation Army and the Women's Chris
tan Temperance Union were The eEIy
bodies making direct efforts in this direc-
ton and they had been successful in rescu-
ing several OF these women, The Salvation
Army had made home for them at Beulah,
ana had got some Of them 10 abandon their
evil life. These efforts. however, only
touched the frInges Of the question.
SHOULD CONCENTRATE.
II the churches would concentrate their
efforts, he had no doubt many more would
be rescued and the dives would not flaunt
themselves so publicly and impudently. The
churches should join with the organizations
formed for the suppression OF these, dives in
arousiBg public sentiment to see if, by due
process Of law, the dives could not be de-
stTOyed. There were difficulties TO be sur
mounted. The maj Jritv of the Board of Su-
perylsoTs wanted TO ShiTk Tespon sibility
claiming that the City and County Attorney
had advised them that the board had no
jurisdiction. Other legal gentlemen in tie
city claimed that the board did possess the
power TO enforce the existing laws or amend
them. II was alleged that section 303 of the
Penal Code makes IL punishable TO sell
liquors In the auditorium of a theater, but
that IL was dead letter 1t was also in dis
agreement with the State constitution, and
IL an attempt was made 10 enforce it the re-
suit would be failure. The attempt to en-
force it wonld have to be made by some
citizen, and the difficulty was TO find any
one III the city sufficiently courageous 20
adopt this course.
The present movement had taken on a
political character In certain sense, al
though the Citizens League claimed that II
was irrespective OF politics, the primary
object being the obiteratlOn OF the dives By
the election Of an Independent Board OF
Supervisors. The executive committee
would meet tonight, when the names of
prominent citizens would be submitted as
candidates, but full ticket would not be
ready for two or three weeks yet.
Now came the question of the advisa-
blllty OF the movement. He believed it was
opporlune aud that God was in it. They
could not expect much help from the prOmi-
nent parties now in the field. There were
three different organizations they had TO
night aga!Dst-the wholesale liquor men, the
retail liquor men and another which he
could not remember.
COINCIDE WITH THE DIVES
Every year these organizations inter
viewed the men put up for the Board of Su-
peTYlsoTs and the State Legislature, aud if
they conceded with their views, net TO dis
tuTo the liquor interests, they were indOrSed
and all their friends were urged 10 vote for
them, irres pective OF party. 1t was also
urged that they could do so without depart
ing from party lines. Those who declined
TO coincide with their views were put on the
blacklist. and every effort made TO defeat
them. Now, ii the forces Of evil could COM
blne together in this way and use their in
huence and money toward electing the men
they wanted, II seemed 10 him that citizens
who believed in law and good order had as
much right to consolidate their forces for
electing their friends. and In fact IL was
their duty to do SO. That, of course, would
take man out Of his own party. Now, was
II their duty 10 leave their own party In
these circumstances? As moral men they
should certainly do so to overthrow these
dives. They would, no doubt, be target
for these liquor men. but they must be pre-
pared for that 1t was brought out at the
meeting in the Metropolitan Temple Sun
day that they would be bOycotted by the
LIQUOR men; but Notwithstanding that, an
appeal should be made to the moral sense Of
what was right and proper. and have the
moral law Vlndicated IT had been alleged
that these meetings in the Metropolitan
Temple were almost entirely composed of
women. but at the meeting on Sunday last
there were Tar more men than women
present.
Tie executive committee OF the Citizens
League bad obtained signed pledges from
5000 voters IN the city 10 stand by the
organization TO suppress the dives,
aud had also received pledges Of support
and expressions Of sympathy from thou
sands of ladies'. who although unfranchised
would make their influence felt. AS minis
tiers they should do something to make the
movement success.
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THEM.
The issue seemed TO be what was TO be
done with the 1900 women in the dives If the
dives were closed up these women would be
scattered about and thrown on the town for
more immortality or for detention in the
almshouse. 1t would be hardly right to take
their means Of livelihood away from them
without providing them with something in
It's place. The Salvation Army and w. g.
l. Y. wonld provide employment for some
OF thsm. Ii was said, however, that respec-
table women would not employ them as do
mestlcs, and reference was made TO a SINH
lar movement in ST. Louis where it was said
that these women had been employed as
domestics, but such Generalization had re-
suited In the homes in the city that they
had to be turned out He suggested that
bureau be opened to get employ ment for
them IN the stores or shops in the city, but
he confessed that it required a greater head
than his to work out the problem.
Dr: James Matthews said great credit was
que Dr. Smith Tor the able manner in which
he had presented the case 20 them. he had
not the wisdom to solve the problem as TO
what would become Of these women. He
was greatly interested In reading the expe-
rlence OF one good woman. married 10 a
worthless husband who was earning q sinh
sistence for herself and three children In
one OF the dives. She seemed 10 be free
from the gross immortality that prevailed,
and only served liquor. The churches
should take profound interest in the mat
ter. lie had never been favorable TO third
party movements, and was unwilling to
to throw away his vote on a candidate who
had no prospect of success, merely for the
purpose of giving testimony to his views.
lie preferred to vote for his party.
TO POSTPONE DISCUSSION.
Dr. w. w. Faris thought it would be bet
ter TO defer the further discussion of the
matter till they had a larger attendance
he did not want to go on record as being
Indifferent on the question, but it was inOD-
perfume to dispose of the matter with such
a small assembly. He was In accord with
the views expressed by Mr.. Smith, and was
satisfied the judgment Of all the brethren
would be the same. He would move that
further discussion be postponed till the first
meeting after the Mills revival services were
over.
DR.. Matthews said he would second the
motion if the visiting brethren would ex-
press their views prior to the motion being
put.
DIR. g. L. Shearer of New York said they