The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-03-04
AsroRIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE THING.

THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE THING.
The ladies of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union have determined to use their efforts to stol
prize fight scheduled to be held in this city Sat
urday night The ladies feel that the fight will bt
disgrace to the city, and that it will have demoral
izing effect, as all such events have. They are op
posed to this sort of amusement on customary
grounds, which we need not here enumerate. They
purpose circulating remonstrance against the stiC
encounter and, upon securing large number of sig
natures submitting the remonstrance TO the chief Of
police with the request that he take steps to stop the
mill
The Astorian is not favoraby inclined toward the
alleged art of prize fighting. 1t is not so much OPP
posed to it because of any particular brutality which
prize fighters display in the ring but it believes that
prize fighting is mighty poor way for one to make
living, and after all that s as much as there is to
this life The much denounced brutal feature of the
game is small consideration, as all know who evince
interest in istic events While prize fighting has
demoralizing tendency, it is not circumstance in
this particular to either the liquor traffic or card
playing At that, however, it is something without
which we could just as well get along There is very
considerable element which is arrayed against the
sport, and on the other hand there is very large
element which believes that it should be permitted
to attend prize fights if it feels SO disposed. The
best solution OF the problem, generally speaking, yet
found is for the opposed to stay away from such
events and for those who manifest interest to attend
As rule, people will do as they see fit in such mat
terS
1t IS plain, however that this crusade of the ladies
OF the w. Z. /. u constitutes an inconsistency
We know they actuated by desire to elevate the
moral tone OF the community, and we know they are
sincere IN their opposition to the coming fight we
understand thoroughly the object which they seek
to accomplish. But they forget that Astoria is
wide-open community. This city depends upon what
is commonly known as 'yice' for the bulk of its
revenues. Cut off this source of revenue and our
taxes would treble We accept annually about $18,.
OOO from the saloon keepers-an amount which just
about equals out total receipts from legitimate tax
ation-and we receive another $4,000 year from
the gamblers The slot machine owners and operat-
orS contribute another $25OO, grand total of $780,
0O0, or about twO-thirds of our total revenues
Now If we find it essential to cater to this class Of
people for our revenues we should not undertake to
prevent any side issue such as prize fight 1t is ad
mittedy poor policy for city to become the rendez
vous OF prize fighters, but it is far worse for city
to depend upon the so-called vicious element for ts
revenues II we are willing to take the money of
this class we can not consistently make war on its
diversions especially when those diversions are far
less contaminating than the evils from which we de-
rive the bulk Of our municipal funds
1t is lamentable that such conditions should exist,
but we are not facing theories. A wide-open COM
munity y-and Astoria is nothing less-must follow
wide-open policies; city which permits gambling
whenever and wherever the gambler will pay $25
monthly into the city treasury must not frown at
prize fights; city which has saloon for every 275
people must expect to put up with such attractions
as fstic events We might Just as well be honest
with ourselves in these matters for opposition to-
prize fighting is, in Astoria, largely waste Of effort
We can not cOnsistent declare against prize fight
ing while openly encouraging and countenancing
other forms of vice Of far more demoralizing ten
dencies.
In view of the conditions existing here, it would
seem the W. c. T. u ought to devote its attention to
other matters of greater civic Importance We com.
mend to the consideration of its members the work
of the Woman's Club This latter organization is
seeking to better the city and has accomplished much
already Presumably its members are aware of the
lamentable customs in vogue here but they know