The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
TO PROTECT THE
CITY'S CHILDREN
APPEAL FOR DECENCY FROM
REV. FATHER CARAHER.
He Declares the Conditions Existing
Seriously Endanger the Morals
of the Young.

The following letter has been addressed
to The Call by Rev. Father Caraher of st.
Francis Church:
Editor Of The CalI-Dear Sir Permit me TO
direct the attention of the public through the
medium OF YOUR Journal to the shameful and
shocking state of immortality that exists in
this northern part Of the city For some time
Hinckley street Pinkney place and Alder street
have been eyesores In the community. but they
have become lntolerabe since the dispersion OF
the fallen women who have lived in the vicIn-
ity Of California and Dupont streets. Many of
these women, when routed from their dwell
ings. came in this direction and to the above
mentioned quarter, and have greatly added
to the intensity OF the evil. Again. prepara-
tions being now fast made in Pacific alley,
which is already fairly stocked with dsreput-
able women. and in a number Of houses and
courts Of this vicinity, 10 receive the women
who are expected to be driven from their pres
ent haunts around Pine, California and Du-
pont streets.
Mr.. Editor there is no section of this city
80 thickly Inhabited by children as the one
that is known as North Beach. and every street
from Bay to Broadway Is swarming with the
offspring OF parents Of every nationality. Now.
hundreds Of these innocent children are obliged
on week days to pass by the sickening cess
pools that I have already mentioned on their
way 10 school and sundays their way to
church The sights that have been meeting
their eyes, particularly since the troops were
massed IN this city. have been Of the most re-
voting nature and sufficient to pollute their
tender hearts for life.
Deeply affected by the slaughter Of in
nocents, some weeks ago I laid the case in q
letter before the Hon. ]. ". Lees, Chief of
Ponce, but that public guardian of virtue did
not deign TO acknowledge the receipt Of my
communication. l Will allow the public in gen
eral; and parents in particular to Judge Of his
conduct, and to saw II the morals of youth
are safe in his keeping.
AZ The Chief Of Police has answered my ap-
peal in behalf or children by a mastery lIfac-
tivity ard an oyster dumbness. I now entrcat
the residents Of North Beach and the Board of
Supervisors to grapple with the difficulty, and
for their guidance l respectfully submit the fol-
lowing considerations:
Firstly-The women living In the vicinity of
California and ImDOnf IN
cupied the premises from time irnmemorial and
have ruined them Irreparablv and are they
now 10 be quartered in other parts Of the city
for their everlasting deflement and ruin? The
evil complained Of is not 70 be stamped out by
filth should be inpounded and compressed in
stead OF diffused. II the filth that lies be-
diTused. some appear TO maintain. then
on the same principle when fire starts in a
the city in order that II may be quenched
Secondly-In the inhabited by these
fallen women the birth OF child is something
he placed in district where children are num-
Dered by the hundred? Parents OF North Beach
asaer' your manhood and womenhood and re-
sist the evil, The same area Is almost excu-
sively inhabited by abandoned women and
ZION he removed from locality the most suit
it,,aneee nd ISOLATION and placed at the very
doors Of the yirtuous maidens and mothers OF
this parish? Mothers and maidens, among
whom I live, arouse TO action the male mem
Thirdly-The statement has been made that
those women are not the city's wards. and
tbat they must be sent adrift without any
tbought Of the injury they are to inffict upon
the people among whom they will settle. This.
no doubt is loving your neighbor as yourself.
NV while admit that these women are not
the citv;s legal wards. yet they it's wards
in mercy. charity and equity because many OF
them re lust what they have been made by
The citv's male scoundrels. What pity there
is no law to compel the destroyers OF these
women's innocence to provide for them In their
deplorable state.
Finally. Mr. Editor having made this con
else statement of the case. I feel confident
INT tie residents of this section of, the city
will take determined stand against the
threatened evil. and that the Board OF super
visors will be neither catoled nor coerced into
any unjust action in the premises.
T. CARAHER, st. Francis Church.