Arizona republican., 1902-11-28
Moral Kansas City.


 In the matter of morals, moral tone, respect for appearances, and all that Kansas City has demonstrated that the controlling element in her population is not belfind Phoenix. Opportunity for making the proof was furnished by proposed bull fight in Kansas City's great convention hall. After being widely advertised. the project was abandoned, just as the proposed bull fight in Phoenix was given up year ago, after the promoters had gone to heavy expense in importing bulls and fighters from Mexico. But before a de- cision was reached that it would not do to pull off" the spectacle in Kansas City there was a very pretty scrap. The town was divided into two fac tions, and each faction had an able newspaper champion. The esteemed Journal took the side of the moral element, and thus discussed the sub ject:
 And the churches do not represent only themselves in this matter. They
 
 self-respecting element of the city's cit izenship, both in and out of church membership.
 ''The permitting of such a barbarous and revolting exhibition anywhere within the city limits would be a dis grace to the community; to give it the sanction of the convention hall direc- tory and the use of the big building is humiliation unmistakable. Kansas City has won praise and admiration conti- nent wide for it's enterprise in building and rebuilding Convention hall; it will invite opprobrium as far reaching if it allows the structure to be prostituted to unworthy uses.
 Presumably the directors were actu- ated by honest motives in resorting to gambling devices and resorting to dis reputable exhibitions to raise funds. If so. they have mistaken the temper of the people. Doubtless such practices meet the appreciation of the sporty residents. Gamblers. barroOm habitues and denizens of the north end presum- ably see nothing amiss in them. But the managers of the hall cannot afford to cater to that class. If they persist in doing so, the selection of new directors for Convention hall will be in order.
 Tn the present instance. the city au- thorities might well step in and forbid the proposed bull fight as menacing to public morals and inimical to municipal decency."
 To which the esteemed Star replied: There is in Kansas City a certain element known as the truly good, which is prompt to display alarm and piOus dissent when any sort of public enter tainment is proposed which cannot be carried on in the name of and for the advancement of religion. This faction or the population makes up in pertin- acity and vigilance what it lacks in volume, and is always heard and felt when there is any sort of an excuse to inveigh against the sinful allurements of the world, the flesh and the devil It looks upon prizefights, guessing con- tests Sunday concerts and theaters and carnival balls with as much dis pleasure and abhorrence as the world lings feel for Sunday school conven- tions and !. NJ. C. A. entertainments.
 "Of course these infexible guardia ms of society are alert and vehement in their opposition to the scheme of pull ing off a bull fight in Convention hall and condemn it as a specias of brutal ity and savagery which should not be tolerated in a Christian community This contention might be worthy of serious consideration if the bull fight were to be of the genuine stamp But since the managers have assured the public that it is to be nothing more than an imitation of the real sport, the fear that it will be too tame is really greater than the misgiving that it will be unduly fierce and barbarous.
 "A source of reassurance to the truly good should be the pledge that Mexi- cans will be set to fight the bulls, ant that there will be no sacrifice of horses This purpose to protect the noble equine friend and servant of man al the expense of greasers is distinctly soothing, and to this may be added the hope that the bulls may be as profes- sional and really harmless as the bronchos that were used at the horse show. In the light of the bronco bust ing at Convention hall. which is stil fresh in the public mind. there seems tC be little cause to become excited ol alarmed about the bull fight, but therC is cause for anxiety lest the perform ance should be so docile and perfunct ory as to cause general lassitude and disappointment.
 "A greaser ought certainly to be ablC to hold his ground against a trick bull and if he is not-well, there are at leas plenty of greasers.'
 But after carefully weighing all tho arguments advanced for and agains the fight" the people of Kansas City decided that much as they neede; money for the debts of their conven- ton hall, it would be better to foregc the pleasure of seeing the great Mex iCan sport.