The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-02
In Turbid Waters.

NJ OiA NN0sShSs
II the city administration were aware
OF the feeling that actually exists In all
parts Of Seattle concerning the reign OF
lawlessness here. We should hear no
more Of the miserable and cowardly
Plea that this is the sort of thing which
the people desire. IT Is by no means from
now fin daily terror OF their lives. that
remonstrance comes. Perhaps the most
surprising thing is that all but the very
worst and lowest criminal element In the
city is disguised and weary with thu
general indulgence promised and granted
to law-breakers. From scores OF sources
below the deadllne comes the report that
there is nothing in It any longer for any
body but the hobo and the jailbird. and
thar tie most rigorous enforcement of
| ordinances could be scarcely less palpa-
BILE than the present free iestsr of credit
| 10 every form and agency of vice.
1t really seems as II federation OF crime
cOuiI 40 ITO IuTtHtT IMAM IL mas Occu
ried mere. For example. in addition to
| TIE maintenance OF public gambling
| places of the sort not unusual In great
| cities, Seattle is plastered with joints
| where what are properly named sure
| thing games are run. These differ In
| no respect morally from authorized loca-
- sxtxf .e Mo
games are called high percentage"
which is a euphemsm for the fact that
| no player has chance to win. Even In
| the worst OF the "wide-open' cities. these
! highwaymen are barred. Seattle is all
| their own; and they fleece the silly and
the unwary with nothing to fear outside
| be. under which they are assured Of free
dom from molestation.
| The iIackest infamy OF all. however.
beyond a question. is the existence of the
wine rooms, with the so-caled family
| entrance" These are a little worse in
some respects than the branded haunts
| VI VICE DftdhHt thts oAtth thAiop Ah'
ignorant. Many girl who would shudder
| at the thought Of approaching an eva
resort is persuaded easily to enter one OF
these places. They are professedly re-
spectacle and the purpose is but 10 take
a glass OF some sort OF refreshment. But
the consequences are the same. The side
/ H.. t..s hA n..Far - sha
brothei; and God knows how many lives
are wrecked every week, how many ca
reers o, shame are begun. how many
hearts are broken aud homes disgraced
in these aocursed places. banned by the
Jaw. hut thrown wide open by human
greed and wickedness and contempt of
the streets OF Seattle and count the num-
bAr % places where girls may enter prae-
,icaily unobserved the concealed dens OF
ioilmty where drinking ends In debauch-
| cry, and calculate the awful responsible
iiy that will rest on this community az
ions as II permits the stencil OF this In
iquity 20 rise 10 heaven.
The most hardened are being slckened
by the liberties accorded 20 eyIl In. this
| city We wish that II were possible 70
lay before those whom II might move
without polluting a communication that
reached the t-Iatelllgeneer not TWEEN
iy-tour hours ago. II was signed BY a
gambler. a man who declares that ne is
not squeamgsh. but that his gorge rises
at what Is doing here. Il contained a
COPY % a handsomely engraved invita-
tion 20 particularly festive occasion Ia
me habita,lons q the lost Date and
address afe given. but the language ~
this devl's leaae, rs so indeseriaa6iy OBJ
scene that It's parpori cannot even be
hisied at Vet these things circulate
freely and without hindrAnee. They are
probably considered a good Joke in official
dem. No business institution can exist
IN the midst OF unlicensed crime and not
feel the loss No home can stand where
these waters q pollution break on every
side without a consciousness Of the pre-
vaning dsalsment What are the people
1 gsinE to do about TT