The morning call., 1892-04-08
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE

The law which regulates public resorts of
the lower order. it is urged. is vague and
easily eyaded II puTpoTts to give to the
Police Commissioners power to refuse a
license 10 q resort which. in their opinion,
is VIGOROUSLY disTeputable; but it is said in
effect that II permits a petition OF twelve
householders in the block where the resort
is situate to override the decision of the
Commissioners. Thus, in the case of the
Crem0Tne, it is urged. where young men
are debauched and TObbeTies and some
times murders are committed, the Commits
sioners refused to grant license. as they
did Ia the cases Of other dives which are
open ana fiourishiEg; but in every case the
wretches who live by running these dives
succeeded in getting the signatures Of
twelve hOuseholders in the block 10 their
petition, and thus were enabled 10 carry on
their uefarious business. 1t would thus be
made to appear that the responsibility for
the dives rests on the shoulders Of these
househOlders, without whose Endorsement
the dives could not have opened and pun
shed their career of Yillainy. 4 not un-
natural desire prevails among the people to
find out who these protectors OF vice are.
Let Us know who are the real hackers of the
CTemOTne, the Bella Union and tue other
dens of iniquity. THE CALL does not,
however, believe that these sinks of iniquity
must remain because of any uncertainty in
the meaning of the law regulating crime.
If even a respectable theater puts upon its
boards vile plays, the place can be closed.
Yet We are told the public must endure such
vile Dlots as are these dives. Shame upon
the proposition.
There is an impression that consider
l.. -
cisco live by catering to vice. and that this
proportion is not confined to the profession
ally vicious class, but includes men OF SEEM
ing Tespectability. That is either an unius:i-
fable SANDER on cur people or it is a shame
full fact. The time has come to ascertain
which it is. If, for the sake of getting
higher rents fer their property, men who
enjoy public esteem rent them cut know
ingly for unlawful and disreputabIe pur-
poses, it is right that their names should be
disclosed Ii. again, from Difference to a
pull. or from other reasons, individuals who
are considered respectable indorse the appli-
cations Of men OF VIGOROUSLY bad character
for permission to open resorts which are
certain to be hotbeds Of vice and crime
they have no right to expect TO hide their
actions. 1t is due to society that the mask
should be taken from their faces and that
they should be shown up as accompliees Of
the offenders, only differing In degree of
guilt from the divekeepers.
1t is against these property-owners and
these householdeTs that public Indignation
ought to be directed. 1t is waste of time
TO try TO influence the creatures who run
dives and other baunts Of vice. for they are
callous 10 censure. Even term of impris-
onment in penitentiary merely strikes
them as so much time lost; to their minds il
carries no disgrace. But the man who fol-
lows an honest calling, who is married 10 a
wife and is bring ng up family of children,
regards conviction for completely in crime
with horror. Such men set some store on
the estimation in which they are held by the
public. They would DO much to retain a
semblance of public respect. If they real
lied that they ran some risk of being classed
with the Cremorne they would be staggered
at the prospect.
Ii these persons are brought face to face
with the danger of exposure they will take
a new view of the situation, and whatever
contempt may be showered on those who
have already committed themselves it will
be pretty difficult hereafter for a dive
keeper TO get Endorsements outside of his
own class. Vigorous measures taken now.
when the public are aroused. will shut up
the dives with their record of murders and
robberies and loathsome vice and hideouj
debauchery. They will throw on the police
the responsibility for the existence of such
places hereafter But there must be no pal.
terDg In the work-no sparing of PERSONS
whatever be their station. An enormous
proportion-the police can tell how much
Of the vice and crime which prevail in this city
is engendered in these dives. 1t is there that
the finishing touch is given to the rretrieya-
BILE ruin of girls, and the first lessons in vice
are taught to boys. 1t is in such places
that thieves and ruffians congregate to plan
robbery and murder 1t is there that the
weak lad who is hesitatiDg on the brink of
crime is encouraged to choose the wrong
path. To talk of showing mercy to the aid
ers and abettors of such sinks of infamy is
TO insult every honest citizen.