The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-01-22

absence. Their time Is TO much taken !
up with business affairs and the ac-
QUESTION OF wealth. tnat they give no
time to their spiritual wants II is
certainly not very encouraging for the
ministers to preach to empty benches.
A minister prepares his discourses vita
great care and ennuntcates from the
pulpits doctrines calculated to benefit
mankind and tend to the hetterment
OF society.
II is very seldom that prominent
business man or citizen Identifies him
self with any movement or crusade In
augurated for hettersng the moral con-
ditions Of the community. This work
all devolves upon the minister and the
women For this reason the work Is
retarded and It throws out the inn
preston that the business men of the
community do not indorsc any OF the
needed reforms Not only does the min
lister and his coworkers, the women,
have to naugurate reforms, but they
have TO appeal TO the officers OF the
law to enforce the laws, As u rule, an
officer elected to observe and enforce
the laws is guided more by public
sentiment than by the law, If the
| al. - =
adverse To closing down gambling be-
cause It ierises some pecuniary benefit
| for it's existence. the officers are In
tluenced by II. This disinclina,ion
10 enforce necessary regulations for
| the betterment of society permentes
every branch of industry. and public
sentiment is formulated on a false
basis, and II man Is arrested for
gambling. ii is impossible to secure Il
jury that will convict him, Thus the
mock sentimentality of the business
element overshadows and sets ut
variance the work contemplated by the
churches and the moral elements Of
the community
There is no use in passing stringent
laws to alleviate the immoral suffer-
ings of a community as long as offl-
GERS refuse to enforce the laws, backed
up by a public sentiment actuated by
the greed OF gain, rather than by ef-
forts to purify the morals of tne COM
munity.. Just so long will statutory
remedies remain dead letters. Even
the press of a city is afraid TO stand
with the better element for fear that
it will lose subscriber or advertiser
Tneer should be a community Of inter-
ests in all social reforms. Teh pulpit
should receive aid and encouragement
from the business element and the
press. AS long as they Withhold their
support will vice and crime continue
rampant and young men fitted for
terms in the penitentiarles instead OF
becoming honorable and useful mem
bers of society.
The young ladies OF Astoria are to
blame to a certain extent for the Inn
morality of young men, High collared
dudes who assay to sneak into good
society by the back door, are frequent
ers of disreputable joints in the tender
loin districts. Notwithstanding this
they are received into the 400 and
fondIed and carressed and become
component part OF society. Attending
socials and parties among the respect
able element Of Astoria and frequent
questionable recorts are not con-
ducive to good morals or the building
up Of society. For this reason the
arguments advanced by the lower ele-
ment of society that reforms should
begin with the 400 has its weight
and influence. Remove the tempta-
tions and reformation Is only matter
Of a short time. Elect officers wno
dare enforce the laws and you remove
the temptations. Change public sem
timent against the existence Of dis.
reputable houses and support the news
papers that are working to secure
these reforms, and it will be but
short time before there will be large
accessions to the ranks Of decency
and church attendance will be largely
increased.