The Opelousas courier., 1897-02-20
"StanI From Under.o
OPELOUSAS. La,

AT u meeting OF the married ladies' OF THIS
town held this day to consider the open preya-
lence and alarming increase of the social evil
in this community, Mrs. p A. Grey was chosen
president.
The following committee was then appointed
by the meeting to consider and report what ac-
ton, ii any, should be taken by the ladies pres
ent i'll the premises
MI. Thos II. Lewis was chosen as the legal
adviser OF the meeting, which then adjourned
to meet ut the high school building on Satur-
day, Feb. 18th, '97, at ) O'Clock p. m, and the
committee previously appointed then submit
ted the following report
The committee appointed at the preliminary
meeting of married ladies of Opelousas to con-
slder the prevalence and increase OF the social
evil in this community and what action, il any,
is advisable to he taken, beg leave to report
that the evil in question exists in this connuIi-
ity to an extent hitherto unknown, and is so
open and shameless as to demand from the
good women of our town some defensive steps
TO protect their homes from its cOntani Mating
presence and touch, Two Gcns of iniquity have
been located near the edge of our town on the
principal thorouyhfarc leading into it, and the
inmates, emboldened by the license permitted
them, frequent our Streets sidewalks, stores,
and some of the saloons of our town, and with
out let or hindcrance are allowed full oppOrtu-
nifty to entice our youth into their vilo broth
els. One of the livery busses is employed al
most nightly in conveying persons to anu from
these dens, and the noise OF this vehicle i'e,am-
bulating our streets at night upon its degraded
and degrading mission, habitual'y reaches the
ears Of our innocent children i'll our homes. 1t
would seem that the men of our town and com
munity who appreciate the enormly OF this
evil, occurring :s it does immediately under
their eyes. ought to have long ago taken meas
ures to stop this outrage upon public morals
and decency, but as no step has been taken by
them we feel ourselves compelled to act i'll self
defense and i'll behalf OF society Itself. Your
committee has been advised that the authOfl-
les have ample power to ACT - ~ 1T the premises premises
that the mayor and board OF aldermen be re-
quested to take immediate and etfectual steps
to arrest this evil as far as practicable within
the town limits.
We have been advised that more Clffcult
question exists us to the power to rid the COM
'nunity OF the dens on the edge of our town,
aud beyond Inc corporate limits. The State
| laws only punish the keepers OF DISORDERLI
DrOthels, and much doubt has been expressed
as to the conviction of the keepers of these
| places under the State law. We have been i'll
| formed, however, that proof can be produced
| that the places ill question arc of a dlsOrderly
| character, and we think our law officers ought
10 INVOKE against tnem The penalties OF law,
and we believe that the convection can be Sc
cured If prosecutions be instituted and backed
| up tDy The moral support of officers of our
court and members OF the oar, In the event,
| however, of the failure OF SUCH prosecution ue
cause of the inadequacy OF The State law, tnen
| in that event We ADVISE the adoption OF effect
i've law on thai subject, and i'll order to obviate
| opposition to such Il measure as far as possible
and to enable each community to act for itself,
we think the best course would De to petition
the Legislature to invest the police jurors with
fun power over this subject matter. in the par
| shes and outside OF the limits of incorporated
| Iu conclusion, your committee recommend
| tllat this body invoke moral and material aid
| OF all the churches, and their pastors, and all
| lne people without regard to sex condition.
| in its effort against this crying evil, which has
| reached such proportion us to be a shame and
Il reprOach 10 our town, and to threaten the
very ex stence of society itself, and in entering
upon this movement. we do no. wish TO be ,l,l-
ceislood as attempting the accomplishment OF
impossible Things.
! VIC do not .iOI,e 10 raGlcate the evil, but il we
get the aid and support from those whom wo
nave q right to expect t,tese Gems OF inIuity
| and ,heir inmates can 90 driven frOm our pub
| thOrOuShtares, streets, saloons and other pub
| public places, and be forced to hide themselves
| sight of our young madens aud innocent chill
| dren; we can surely secure a return to the
| older and better CUSTOM OF observing public
| morality and decency, and to that end we
! pledge lnis movement and all the energy and
| influence we possess, Individually and co"ect
| lively.
Mrs NJ NJ Hayes, Mrs Clements,
| - S r Crawford, . G l. Duprc,
| :. II blackslier, g G A Shute,
| - LacOmbe, s. B d HarmansOn,
| - r K Settoon, '' M ]. Evans,
| - Il Nj Case, C Thompson.
! Committee.
| The report of the committee having been
| submitted to the meeting was fu'-y discussed
and unanimously adopted
Upon motion, duly seconded and adopted
| 1t was
| Resolved, That the secretaries of this meet
| ing furnish a copy of the proceedings to each
| one OF the newspapers OF this town, to the off,
GERS OF the court, and to the mayor and the
| board of aldermen.
Mri. P. A. Grey, President.
Mrs. Henry Crawford, Secretary
| "a nN0arSipOa6