The Washington times., 1907-09-01
Will Fight Vice

r T Is reported that the citizens Of
New Jersey city have organized
a society and raised a fur Z ~
5000 TO aght vice" Judge i'll
fam NJ. tanning Is the president, The
pastors Of the churches Of various de-
nominations are the vice presidents.
The most prominent business men
are serving on committees which have
been appointed TO establish a mis-
sion for homeless men; to enforce the
Sunday laws; 10 take religious CEN
sus OF the city. and wage an evangeli-
cal campaign next winter"
It has been suggested that they add
a committee Of men and Womon who's
special duty it would be 20 look afJr-
women and girls. and who would oil
in some proper way interest the wives
and mothers Of the city IN the aleva-
ton OF the standard OF morality in
the best as well as the worst society
in this New Jersey city.
Let them discountenance vaudeville
performances, gambling IN every form.
cigarette smoking by women and men
Of all ages; tipping OF all kinds.
whether It be drinking punch, cock
tails. highballs. eordisls. julsps, or
any other OF the many seductive
beverages IN vogue. Let them give
after the opera or theater suppers'
in their own homes when It is possible
pstronizing hotels and restaurants only
when their own abiding places are In
adequate to accommodate the party
Il has always seemed to me th-r
present generation has lost maca
the change that has been wrought g.
substituting clubs for the home Men
and women in these DAYS are prone to
entertain their guests at their clubs
instead Of IN their homes At the club
IL Is necessarily more expensive. but he
would be a poor caterer who would not
suggest the highest priced viandz and
wines for such occasions.
These professionals always insist
that less than Two wines would be a
beggarly entertainment, and they usu-
ally think three nearer the proper
thing. And no one ever yet enjoyed a
luncheon OF dinner, no matter how
sumptuously prepared and deliberately
served by a caterer. as much as tht
simpler ones. more daintily cooked and
tsstefully appointed and served in tht
home OF their host or hostess. It would
be well TO begin the reformation il
Trenton along the above lines. II there
Is a desire to establish higher ambi
lions In the minds OF the whole popula
ton.
1t would seem quite as important {,
have missions for homeless womeI
apart from those OF homeless men
Destitute women and girls are by IA
the more to be pitied and protected
their very weakness making them OF
ten easy victims OF the INSCRIPTIONS
They are far less able TO buffet witt
outrageous fortune than the weakes
OF the male sex.
There is probably foundation for III
assertion that If all the women wer
good and virtuous there would be few
CT bad men, as 1t was a woman VIII
tempted man to his fail. At any rate
It Is wise to protect women from In
snares that encompass them even Il
the best regulated communities.
Doubtless the practical plans whicl
are 10 be adopted in Trenton will fur
nish indisputRble evidence that heart
cooperation in systematic efforts {
uplift humanity and inspire ambitio
for right living will bear a rich h2r
vest. especially If they convince evil
doors it pays them best TO do RICH
and the better element that il Is IN
more economic method OF dealing wit
criminals. This experiment will b
watched with deep interest. and If suC
cessfuI II viii be tried by many othe
towns and cite
Personally I saOuld like to see som
city try the project Of having eX,ci
sive tracts of land-one or more
necessary-for adult males, and seps
rate ones for boys; and like provisio
for women and girls. also separated
where every kind OF industry could
carried on under municipal supervision
This would give unfortunate creature
an opportunity to do something f,
themselves.
A system of compensation accordir
TO the work by adults could be eStui
lished and thereby give them occups
ton until they could be trusted 20 &
out into the world again. A directo.
could be kept which would secure I'd
them steady employment, the SUR
defense . against criminal practice
Feed and clothe the children and "a
prentice them TO a trade-or vocatio
II you please to call it so. Take the
not only as criminals or Offend
against laws. but as dependents WI
needed protection and help. Ha'
strict moral and industrial rules al
regulations. ana require obedience
them