The San Francisco call., 1904-08-08
WILL PUBLISH
ALL OFFENDERS
Rev. I. Keast Tells People He
Will Expose Distributors
of Indecent Advertising

Who is responsible for the whole
sale destruction OF our boys and girls
through the circulation of obscene lit
erature and pictures in San Fran
cisco?" was the subject discussed by
the Rev. Z. A. Keast at the Epworth
Methodist Episcopal Church last night.
The speaker said in part:
My soul is filled with righteous indignation
at the revelations which have been divulged
snent the circulation in this city Of obscene
ness cards 1t IS not often that l diverge from
the gospel of Jesus, but this subject is so I'm
portant the destructive influences that sur
round our youth are so pernicious. that IL
would be crime not TO speak and not to pro-
test would be to brand myself a coward and
unworthy the position I hold.
The flthy. disgusting pictures and foul read
ing matter circulated in San Francisco call for
our united contempt, and after few days l
ana nearly all the ministers OF San Francisco
VIII bring before you the names and the ad-
dresses Of such parties who have been further
ing their own low interests 10 the danger of
our boys and girls.
When the complaints first came to me did
not believe such practice could be widespread
in our city. I was advised that the only thing
70 do was TO awaken public sentiment and con-
science, for nothing practical would be done
by the citys administration.
Since last Monday when 1 brought the mat
ter before the Methodist Ministers Associa-
tion. we have had additional Information that
this obscenity has been going on for years in
San Francisco, while nothing has been done TO
suppress il
cigar stands circulate these vile advertising
cards and indecent pictures, and they may be
purchased also at certain shops of the city.
The addresses of these offenders we will give
later.
In the face Of all this. who can measure the
effect Of the evil? II has its influence on the
home and on the church: it prepares for a Ii
centious life in boy and girl.
France sewed this seed. and her morals to-
day low and shameful. II this state of
affairs is permitted here, then san Francisco
must in course Of time become a second Paris.
Who is responsible? The resorts where these
vile cards and pictures are distributed ST.
beria is too good for those responsible for the
distribution.
TIE responsibility partly rests with the
printer who prints them. he says that 1t Is
cuse for selling them TO the youths Of our city.
The stcrekeeper Is responsible for the aFd he
gives in dsposipg of the vile stuff. l am In
formed that not only do men purchase the
obscene matter, but women, too, are known to
purchase IL.
Common Iecency demands the suppression OF
the unlawful traffic, but what one ex-
pect Of administration that opened the
/ 1ngleside racetrack in defiance Of the expressed
wish Of fathers and mothers of this city
parents who have no desire TO their boys
become gamblers2 What can be expected OF
! administration which licenses prize fights,
without restriction
Sometimes 1 ashamed to say ! am a
resident Of san Francisco with the plug uglies
who are permitted here. II 1t were not for
public sentiment the administration would give
a permit for bullfghts.
I pledged the support of numerous 50
cieties in this determined step against aw-
fuI evil. The Citizens Alliance. with its 10
600 members. has promised me it's support
and / now appeal to the typographical Unior
to see that the union stamp shall be no longer
placed on such matter. 1t Is then say
PEELED TO condemn it. if not to withdraw from
the union entirely.