The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-24
NO TAX ON VICE.
Mayor Drew Does Not Believe
In Licensing Resorts
City Will Not Place a Premium
on Shame.S
FIRST RAID MADE.
General Round Up and Inmates
Taken to the Station.
Will All Be Driven Out Of the
City.
News Cleaned In Police Court
Circles.

ing anv of its revenues by placing a
tax on vice and the police have been IN
structed to close every place that can
be found. The keepers of these places
will soon go back to Kansas CITY OF
Wichita from whence they came two OF
three wears ago when the corrupt ad-
rninistration of police affairs in topeka
first gave them encouragement.
In discussing the question Mayor
Drew said:
1.-THE city government will never have
to depend for it's support upon the earn
dngs of frail women of the streets. 40
not believe in licensing wee. know
that it has been the custom Tor the Pc
lice to fine women of this class with
more or less regularity but the practlce
will not be continued.
Il understand that there are several
of these places in Topeka which have
been more or less under the protectloh
of the police. They are centers of vice
where young boys often start on the
downward road to degradation. They
are always supplied with liquor Whlch
is sold at high prices and every one
of them is properly speaking a JOINT.
! also understand that in some OF the
places gambling is carried on regularly
This question is one which mas
caused me a great deal of worry. L
have been told that this is vice
which could not be erad1cated ana
should therefore be controlled but can
not see it that way. II these women
go to cities where they can be protected
by the city governments and L am IN
favor of allowing them to go.
Il believe that Topeka can get along
without these resorts and if it is in my
power I intend to rid the city OF To-
peka of their baneful influence.
THE police will be instructed to ar
rest the people who run these houses
and close up their places at once"
Pursuant to instructions a wholesale
raid was made by the police last night.
The raid was unexpected, for that is
not the way the police have been do
ing recently. 1t was a little after
O'Clock when Sergeant Owen rang the
front door bell at los East Fourth street
The door was opened and the officer
was ushered into the front parlOr. The
room was we'll furnished with three
sofas. richly upholstered; easy chairs,
heavy tapestry curtains and rugs.
Two young women in sleeveless
dresses a la Madam Sans Gene and
decollette. were playing casino on the
floor in the center of the room under
the chandelier.
A young woman with a white China
silk dress was reclining at full length
on a sofa smoking a cigarette and
watching the rings of smoke curl up
ward
Another in an abbreviated dress of a
very red shade of scarlet was sitting
in a rocking chair with her feet curled
up and swaying backward and forward.
well, guess again." exclaimed one
as the stalwart form of the sergeant
whats up?" asked another as she
scrambled up from the floor and gather
ed up the cards into her lap.
Il have a warrant for Jennie Cline"
said the sergeant.
III call her. and in a moment she
appeared.
The sergeant read the document to
her while the others stood around like
a bevy of chorus girls and listened.
There's four besides myself said
Madam Cline: Can 1 pay you the $65
You must all CO." replied the ser
geant.
''What?' came in a chorus of high
sopranos and deep altos.
Yes. Hurry up and come on"
+'Well, I neverH' r.
THAT beats mei'
Go to jail!'' were some of the ex-
CARNATIONS wrung from them by this
astounding announcement.
In these clothes?' asked one.
Mo- said the sergeant, Il think it
would be a good plan for you to dress"
1t was all Of half an hour that the
sergeant waited. Hair curriers' clicked.
A powder box ratified. There was con-
slant hum of voices, and finally the five,
with silks, satins, leghOrn hats and all,
appeared and were escorted to the sta
tion.
Were marching on to Jail, we are,
we are. We care not what the people
the party.
Keep stilI," said the one named in
the warrant as she walked ahead.
Now put on your best manners. Don't
chew gum nor smoke cigarettes, and be
quiet
There were five distinct swishes as the
silk skirts brushed past the ends of the
benches in the court room and the party
seated itself in a row in front of the
judges bench Jailer Grubbs took their
names.
Jennie Cline" was the answer from
the first.
u webb" was the next booked.
The jailer put down The for Theo-
dora Cline.
The next claimed her name to be
''MolasSeS Woods" and the last said
she had been christened Maud Brook
How much will this be?'" asked the
first.
1T will be s25 for you and $40 apiece
for the rest as appearance money"
said Chief Ramsey.
will you take a eheck?"
Yes, if it is good" replied the chief.
"A check for $65 was drawn and hand
ed to the CHIEF, who motioned for an
TO be brought in.
wait till we get out" said the leader.
1--WE don't want to mix" and as the
crowd that Sergeant owen had chap
eroned went out the front door of the
court room, Officers Pavey and Bundy
who gave their names as Vera Knowles,
Dot Knowles, Fay Vanilla, Dode Rod
gers and Grace Ellis. The first was
called upon for $45 for keeping a place
the west side of Kansas avenue be-
tween Third and Fourth streets
Dode Rodgers had no money and con-
tributed watch. She was found
the east side Of Kansas avenue between
Fourth and Fifth streets.
Officer Mccoy called at 301 Kansas