The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-12-03
VOICE OF PEOPLE
The Fight Against the Bawdy Houses
A Statement,

that the public should hear the facts
from some OF the workers.
Let us review the history OF the
situation. Forty years ago, when
Paducah was village, certain
houses of ill-fame existed on the
river front, on South Second street.
They became a public nuisance and
were ordered to move. Thirty-nine
years ago these houses moved to
what Is now known as West Court
street At that time the location was
practically out of town, in little
pocket OF street ending In a hollow,
and With practically no near neigh
bors. But thirty-nine years have
passed since then. and Paducah, now
grown from q village 10 a city, has
had to face a new situation. What
was then nearly out of town, a re-
tired spot. remote. hidden away. sep
arated from the life of the town, has
been so surrounded by the city as to
become very nearly the center OF
town. During the last few years
numerous thines have taken place to
magnify the publicity Of the objec-
tionable nelghborhood. An elegant
city High school building has been
erected nearby; the public library is
just across the street: cars are now
running on Ninth street. and the old
tobacco warehouses which acted as
a sort OF screen have burned down.
West Court street has become posi-
bly, the most conspicuous spot In the
city of Paducah.
Certainly the time has arrived 60
clean up. But the argument has
been raised that the neighborhood
has been regulated" kept as quiet
and unobtruslve as possible, porches
latticed In, the inmates forbidden TO
solicit patronage. or even to appear
In public In offensive dress or man
ner. We have no way of knowing
what orders have been given for this
regulating but we do know that
such orders. II given. have been open
ly disregarded. Here are few facts.
not theories. but facts, we'll known.
and capable OF being substantiated.
every one:
Lattlced porches, in themselves an
open sign OF the character OF the
house. have not prevented inmates
from sitting IN doorways and walk
Ing the streets In full view OF every
one passing on Broadway or Ninth
street. going. for instance. to the
High school or the public library.
We do know that women have openly
solicited patronage in public manner.
and that, too, from men riding on a
Ninth street car. or standing on
Broadway. We do know that an in
decent exhibition has been INDUCED
in by at least three women. on the
public pavement. on a beautiful Sun
day afternoon. when the neighborlne
public streets were filled with men.
women and children. We do know
that when a certain public parade was
passing up Broadway fully a dozen
women. i'm very Objectionable attire.
in itself enough to advertise their
calling. congregated at the corner OF
Broadway and Ninth. when the High
school had just been dismissed. and
the girls and boys coming from
school were forced to crowd their way
through or pass around this group OF
women. so attircd.
These are but simple facts. Ger.
tainly II was time to call a halt.
The issue has been raised that this
originated with a few per.
sons who happened to be near neigh.
bors TO the Objectionable characters
This lie perfectly true. and Tor the
same reason that sick man sends for
the physician. and a man being az
saulted calls for the police. The |
leaders OF this movement have de
only the redress and protec
ton which every law of equity and oil
deceney grants them. Blu;
when II Is asserted or implied that |
this ~ merely an effort to drive the |
nulsances from one neighborhood ant |
foist It on another neighborhood. the
assertion or implication is absolutely
and unequlvocally false. We den,
the fact that any such lawless neigh |
borhood, or any part of II, need be al
lowed to exist anywhere in Paducah |
We glory in the foresight and courage
Of the citizens OF the First and Secont |
wards In the stand they have taken
md trust all law-abiding citizens will |
Join forces with them. II necessary |
let every ward In the city organize |
Such action may not drive immoral
ny from the city. but 1t will at leas'
demand and accomplish that It be
no longer allowed to plant itself open.
y in our very midst, and that IL shal /