Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-11-21

night at a little meeting held in the
office of Attorney A. b. McMillen, in
resentment of the brazen way invita-
lions to an opening had been sent out
on Thursday and Friday Of last week
from the Driscoll house of i'll fame,
gathered much moss on Sunday and
Monday. and last night Attorney Nc
Millen presented the council with pc
titions signed by 400 people, who re-
quest and demand that the laws and
ordinances against prostitution in the
city of Albuquerque be enforced.
II was plainly evident that the coun-
Gil was not at all in sympathy with
the movement, but it readily agreed
to listen to Attorney McMillen, wnv
was introduced by Alderman Hanley.
Mr.. McMillen's address was a bust
ness-like talk. He said that he had
petitions in his hand signed by 1853
people of the city, who ask that the
council take immediate action in sup
pressing the evil, and he believed that
three-fourths of the people of the
city would sign the petition il they
were asked to do so. Besides the
names on the petitions, he said that
several names had been sent to him
by other sources, and that the Won
ans Christian Temperance Union
and the Albuquerque Woman's club
had notified him that they would lend
their assistance in the movement. A
petition was handed in later bearing
the names of the ladies of the latter
organization.
Mr.. McMillen then told of instances
which reflected on the good and bad
of Albuquerque.
"a few days ago | was in Matson's
book store and saw a stranger buy
ing school books. l asked him where
he was from. He said that he lived
in Arizona; had a ranch out there,
and had come to albuquerque for the
winter because of it's excellent school
facilities. He had children of school
age. | considered this quite a com
pliment to u schools.
"Now, | am also informed that some
young men who have come up here to
school have fallen among bad influ'
ences because of this district UP
here"
There could be no mistaking the
district referred to. 1t occupies the
very center Of the city, covering North
Third street from Copper emu to
Marquette. The residents of the dis
OlCtS MUM VI II oO ohuh Nhut pm NiOh
of Third street, that in coming to the
city or returning home, they must
walk two blocks out of their way, TAX
ing either. Second or Fourth streets
And the piano in the Copper avenue
house may be heard any night after
8 o'clock on the main street of the
city, between Third and Fourth
streets.
"There is no need to tell any mem
Der of this council the location of the
breeding place of this vice." continued
, Mr.. McMillen. THE very center Of
our city Is notorious and is avoided
by all decent people as a pestilence
Its residents fiaunt their vice up anC
down the main streets of the city, or
the sidewalk and in carriages; monop
Ollie the highways and public places
and make it unsafe for a decent won
an to walk through the business par
of the city. The mothers, sisters anC
wives of the members of this coun
ell shun the locality | mention, as 8
fostering place.
THE time has come when the city
. of Albuquerque cannot afford to toll
crate this thing any longer.
THE council has full power to &C
in the matter, and the demand of the
people is that they do so.
"My remarks are not made in the
spirit of criticism. | know, through
experience, well the difficulties tina
confront the council in matters like
this. ! also learned while in the coun
ell that the city marshal is a faith
full and conscientious officer, and al
ways respected his views in this ques
ton as well as others. But every
s one must realize that the time ha
come when something must be done.
Council Has Absolute Power to AboI
ish the Evil.
Mr.. McMillen read a portion of tn,
law governing prostitution, and !
gives the council absolute power t
either suppress the evil or abolish /
entirely, and it very specific in stat
ing that it shall be prohibited within
700 feet of any public building, meet
ing place or house of worship.
At the conclusion of his talk MI
McMillen thanked the members OF tn
council for their indulgence, but be
fore he could be seated Alderman
Wilkerson asked him how long n
y was a member of the council, and tn
following ~colloquy took place:
81 think | was a member OF IN
council about three years" said MI
McMillen.
Yes" said Mr.. Wilkerson, "'91, g
and 1913, weren't they? That evil "a
listed at that time, didn't 1t? VIII
didn't you suppress It then?'
Il have no excuses to make rt
piled Mr.. McMillen. The matte
wasn't brought up then. It Shout
have been, though. Conditions hav
changed since then, the evil graC
ually growing worse, and besides,
hope that we have a better counc'
now than we had then"
Where are We going to get thi
$1,000 eyenue from that we ale GO
ting now from these houses?"
I'm not making any suggestions o
what to do with the houses or wher
to get money from. | think that tn
city could get the money from som
more legitimate source" was the r.
ply.
you have 1863 anne there, out
about 1900 people?"
1t was at this time that Mr.. McMi
len said that he believed that h
could get ~three-fourths Of the adult
Of Albuquerque to sign the petition
Mayor Mckee then took a hand
the debate.
do you want the business abe
ished?" was his first question.
81 cannot voice the views of ever
person whose name Is on that pet