Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-05
is THE CHURCH TO BLAME?


is THE CHURCH TO BLAME?
In an article published elsewhere in
this issue W. B. Bonnifeld discusses
the question, Should the church of
the twentieth century make a depart
e.e, and what shall it be-" Mr.. Bon
nifield's opinion is that the church is
responsible for some things thai
should not be and that the church
must make a departure from its pres
ent methods in the future. With some
things that Mr.. Bonnifield says nearly
all persons will agree; with some
things others, including the Courier,
will dissent. For example, we do not
believe the church is entitled to any
blame for the location of the Carnegie
library in this city; on the contrary,
il it is responsible at all, it is to be
heartily commended for securing the
excellent location which that public
edifice occupies. At the same time
we cordially agree with Mr.. Bonnifield.
that the st. Louis brewers of beer
should not have been permitted to
stick their beer watts and horse sta
bles under the noses of the incoming
and outgoing public on the lot facing
the union depot and adjoining a pub
lie plat of ground, which should by all
flower garden and park. Mr.. Bonni-
field is probably right when he says
that the quasi promise of a new hotel
building which has not materialized,
was the delusiye bait that brought
about this Dissertation.
Mr.. Bonnifeld states a pertinent
truth when he says that the locations
of the "houses of d~ebauchery'' in this
city are as well knwn as the locations
of the corner groceries. If this state
ment offends a%nybody's sensibilities,
we'll and good; it is time that some
body's sensibilities were being
aroused.
MI. Bonnifield is right in lamenting
the fact that these social ulcers are
not only.tolerated but are officially un.
molested and protected, because for
sooth, they pay a monthly fine into the
city treasury. But we cannot agree
with Mr.. Bonnifield in placing the
blame for this condition on the
church. That is not where it be-
longs. We believe the church is doing
its part to the fullest extent possible.
1t is the Individual citizen and voter
who is to blame. The present city
administration of Ottumwa is carrying
W OuC llG putty WHICH luS nNOISIS OI UllS
city at the polls said they wanted in
augurated. Just as long as the voters
vote in that way, just SO long will ex-
isting conditions continue, only they
will, if possible, become worse instead
of better
4E-l4L-
What the city of Ottumwa needs
now, is a business administration by
strong and able business men who
will i~naugurate a wise business policy
in business affairs. Such an admins.
tration will enforce the provisions of
the mulct law without favor and with.
out Discrimination; will refuse to
license vice; will drive the profession
al gambler out of the city; will break
up The organized houses of prostitu-
tion and reduce the social evil to a
minimum. All this does not mean pro.
hibition of the liquor traffic, but it
does mean decency and fairness in in
forcing the mulct law and the criminal
statute. 1t is up to the individual citi-
zens and not the organized church to
do this work. When the citizen does
his full duty most of the evils to which
Mr.. Bonnifleld refers, will be banished
or restrained to the fullest extent pos
sible.
ATTEMPT TO REBUkE HENDER.
SON.