The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-05-02

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time, It Is also notorious fact that
the police stand In with the lswless
elen,ent and by means ef a systematic
levy license for crime Is given. and
with crime licensed BY law the only
element with which It can be subdued,
iit Is expected to run rife and reach
the widest state. Ia this aye OF
restlessness and freakish happenings,
/ the criminal given full sway Is ex-
pected TO do JhIngs new in the lawless
line, II is fad TO spring something
new on the public through all the
channels OF social life and modern in
ventiou aad the criminal naturally
keep apace with the times He gloats
over the Nervousness Of his crime as
an Inventor would over new device,
4 1, becomes disease brought about
! by ma ural results and as long as the
conditions such as are now to BE- found
IN the yenderloln districts Of the cites
new freaks ef crime may be expected
to be reported every few days, These
places are eess-pools. assesses And
like all impure things win break ont
J in the mas, unexpected manner Men
who hang around saloons day in ana
day on, ana live on the fieeclngs from
the unwary and the earnings OF fallen
women soon get In degraded state OF
mind and morality which ats them for
crime OF the most wicked nature. Five
men could not be found in any other
class who would commit an assault
on weak and defenseless woman.
Under the cloak Of religious freedom
and liberty Of speech a great num-
ber Of cnAnks go upon the streets and
harrangue the people and block the
thoroughfares and not only become
nuisances TO the public eye but also
iniure the cause Of religion. Portland
possesses few OF these whom every
legitimate effort has been made to
suppress Two or three are known to
be lunaties but as they are not vio-
lent and their mania is confined to the
subject Of religion they are not at SUBJ
iects for the asylum and go on persist
emily day in and day out carrying on
their imaginary mission work This
has caused great prejudice against all
forms of Christian work on the streets
and especially so is the case in the
tenderloin district where these imbecIles
do their harrangueing This. doubtless,
aided in suggesting the assault on
Miss Stewart. Hers however. was
not case Of the kind against which
prejudice legitimately exists. Her
work was especially commendable. It
was true Christian work. She went
about It in an intelligent way and q
way that was winning. She went
Equietly into the dens OF unfortunate
girls and had heart to heart talks with
them, But few Of these women are
continuing in their degraded life from
choice but have drifted there and once
there see no hope Of getting out. The
person who can find a way for them
to better life and take them by the
hand and lead them to It performs one
Of the greatest acts to humanity with
in the province OF earthly power.
While The assault upon Miss stewart
is shocking 10 every one except the
brntes who committed 1t yet IT may
be the means Of great results. Her
work might have never been known
had it not been brought out by reason
Of the assault Her Blen is 50 FEAST
ible and so sure of success that other
women throughout the country will
take up the work and thousands Of
women may through this means be
rescued from life of shame
In the meantime as long as the law
licenses crime, tenderloin districts Will
continue to exist and terrible crimes
will be committed, as the one is the
natural result Of the other.