Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-01-06
i9o4-BE AND DO WHAT

CuSbOudIy SI0cbiAb5 hHd WlSuluk ~ w
be cheering and happy one, for The
first time, we stumble and hesitate.
The thoughts inspired by the horrible
holocaust in the Ircquois theatre Of Chi
cago, will not down, strive as we may.
From out of the populous city, men
groan and the soul of the wounded cri-
eth out" The question, with irresistible
force-net to be denied, asks Where
is the fault2 What shall we, individu-
ally, be and do to crush out the wrong
and build up the right and the true in
ourselves, our homes and our respective
communities? What wrong makes such
horrors possible2 Someone and some
thing is at fault. Who and what is ii? p
Eight hundred souls dashed into eterni-
ty by scerching flames and heat intoler-
ablel rs per cent Of whom were chill
dren or those treading the Threshold
of beautiful and tender womanhood or
strong and promising manhood.
The Chicago Tribune is doing COM
mendable work from a purely news
standpoint and furthering measures for
systematically and effectively handling
existing conditions and relieving inn
mediate needs. But first and foremost
in Importance is its serious and deter
mined effort to get at the why and
wherefore2 Weigh carefully the dam
aging indictments of the Chicago press
generally Of violations Of law and ordi-
nAnces
From our own metropolis of Milwau-
kee, comes the official statement Mil
waukee's ordinances are strict-if com
piled with, Milwaukee theatres would
be the safest in the country Here is
the rub-if complied with So was it
in Chicago. So from San Francisco to
New York. Utter disregard, deliber-
ate evasion and wilful disobedience OF
law and contempt for authority. In
the home, disrespect and disobedience
to parents. In the schools, defiance to
the delegated authority of teachers. In
the courts, under the accepted, If not
undisputed plea Of professional duty to
By technicalities and forced
constructions, is there not a growing ten
dency to eTade ant lender VIII and of
no effect the intent and purpose Of just
and righteous laws, to further mans
selfish greed in the mad rush and strug-
gle for wealth, and more wealth. In
the pulpit and press very many are elo-
quent in denouncing wrong in high or
low places, but too many are silent when
ley ought to speak.
The curse of politics in our large
municipal governments gives full play
TO human selfshness and greed. Temp
alton and pressure of well-nigh irresist-
ible force and Of a character insiduous
and virulent causes the responsible pub
lie officer to wink at violations of law,
and to permit for a consideration,
deliberate evasions thereof Business
men manufacture shoddy, instead of
standard, and therefor effective ashes
tos curtains, because they are ordered
and paid for, knowing the use to which
they are to be put, and that if fire
comes, as it did at the Iriquois theatre,
death viii ensue. What are we who do
these things? Says President Roose-
velt; The worst evils that affect our
local government arise from and are
the inevitable result of the mixing up
of city affairs with the party politics of
the state and nation. Such connection
opens the way to countless schemes of
public plumber and civic corruption
We are all at fault, every one Of US
Let us in the year now opening. and in
all the years that may be ours, help
each the other to be and ring true to
first, then 20 others, our city
and nation. and compel those who viii
not and wish not so to do, to sink self
for the good Of common humanity,
and that right quickly, and for all time.
Spasmodic spurts of public or private
virtue hide the sore from view for the
moment, but nourish and develop the
hideous ulcer fostering beneath. Let
rs be thorough and untiring for the
right