The herald., 1895-06-29
The Social Evil

| Editor Herald Much has been said
and much written for and against the ac.
tion of the Ministerial association on this
question. l desire a word through your
journal in answer to an article published
in one OF our city papers under the title,
A Word to Reformers. Tho first point
inade in that article is that the would -bo
reformers offer no practical plan for the
removal OF the evil. In answer to this, |
say, remove it just as you remove other
oTimesi simply enforce the law as il stands
on.the statute books. The way to re-
sumo is to resume, and the way to re-
move the evil IS for the officers OF the law
to remove it.
What u loving heart the writer of this
article has for these fallen prostitute
women. as shown by his statement that
these unfortunate women cannot be ex-
pected to lie down and die at the behest
of either of the preachers or the officers
OF the law. He says they are offered no
place of refuge. This is not true, as there
are several such places open for anyone
of these guilty prostitutes who wish to
change their wicked lives. Then his
sympathy breaks out afresh, and he at
tempts TO shield them by quoting the
Sinners Friend as rebuking the adulter.
Gus Pharisees, and then commanding the
wicked woman TO go and sin no more.
That means not that He approved OF such
nefarious business as .practiced by these
corrupt and corrupting women. III He
were here He would have them at once
quit these vile cribs and lead good life.
Again he seeks TO jlstify a continuance
OF this SOCIAL evil by saying that it is as
old as history. and has never been elm
mated from any land on earth. Doesn't
he know that murder, theft and otner
crime have existed just as long ana not
yet been eliminated from any land on
EARTH and will he argue on chat basis
that all crime must be let alone and run
riot? This is the logical conclusion of the
article from which [ quote.
Again, tho writer says positive and
practicable methods OF treating this wide
spread evil'a demanded. Toll, tenacty
and persistence are indispensa BILE to sue
cess. All right, say to the writer under
Word to Reformers, Just you keep
right on with such sentiments, ana you
will stand at once with the ministers On
this question
The writer was unfortunate in illus
trating his views as to what should be
done with this social evil by quoting the
question of American slavery. He says
1T took years to remove this curse, and
therefore, following the analogy. 1T will
take scores of years to remove these cribs
OF prostitution fom Alameda steet. How
encouraging, truly.
| notice in the same journal a letter
written to said paper, by one who signs
himself father. 1t IS made up OF false
and vile insnuations.
Who is this Father who wrote this
letter? | understand there is a man said
to be large property holder in this city
who owns some of these vile dens on
Alameda street, and who rents one of
them to his own daughter for the pur-
pose of prostitution. | wonder if he was
not the man who wrote this letter for
publication; for the whole trend of it is
to have the men who are moving against
these open brothels to haul off and LET
them enjoy their vicious occupation
without disturbance.
Why did this letter writer hide himself
behind the name OF "Father? Was he
ashamed to put his name to his express
convictions as contained in said letter.
l doubt if any respectable citizen OF Los
Angeles will consent to allow his name
rs author of this letter to be known.
doubt if such citizen of respectability
exists. W. B. BARBER.