Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-06
BOYS ARE RUINED,
GIRLS IN SLAVERY
DRAWS AWFUL PICTURE OF
PANAMA
W.. p. Ferguson Addresses a Large
Audience In Symphony HaII-De-
cIares United States Respon-
sibIe for Debauchery

"The Morals of Panama Was the
subject of an address delivered by w.
p. Ferguson, editor of the Defender
New York, last night at symphony
hall. An interested and enthusiastic
audience heard the talli, which was
frequently interrupted by applause.
Mr.. Ferguson has recently returned
from Panama, where he has been IN
vestigating and studying the condltions'
and is considered thoroughly coin-
petent to discuss them intelligently.
Mr.. Ferguson said in part:
1.-THE responsibility of the United
States government for the conditions
existing upon the canal zone is SO
clear as to be the subject of no pos
sible question. The sovereignty OF the
United States over the canal zone is
as complete as our sovereignty In the
District of Columbia. In the case or
the two cities, Colon and Panama, the
situation is not quite as clear at nrst
sight, but is equally certain by the
terms of treaty which gives us pos
session upon the isthmus. We are III
the position of over-lords in both OF
those cities, empowered to intervene In
the affairs of the city, and even TO
levy and collect taxes. In addition 10
all this, the will of the United States
government from the peculiar SITUATION
existing is practically omnipotent with
the government of the republic OF
Panama, which exists and can exist
only by virtue of the support OF the
United States.
Uncle Sam Is Landlord
"And still further the people Of the
United States own practically the
whole of the city of Colon, that city
being built upon land Of which the
United States became the owner
through it's purchase of the Panama
railroad. There is not a saloon or dive
in the city of Colon with the exception
of a little plot Of land reserved by the
Panama government of which the
United States government is not the
landlord, that is the owner of the land
upon which it is built.
.'Now in view of these facts, let me
recite in brief conditions that 1 found
upon the canal zone. There are, it is
true, fewer saloons today than there
were when the United States took pos
session of the territory, but the saloon
is still practically at the present the
length of the zone. The man who
wants to get away from the influence
of the saloon upon the zone cannot 90
SO. Every working point where Amer
leans congre=ate 1t Is there in num-
bers sufficient to make it the dominant
feature Of American life.
Where Youth Is Debauched
s'In the cities of Panama and Colon
the stranger at first feels almost as II
there was nothing save saloons in the
city, and to these and their kindred
dens of infamy the young men who
are at work upon the canal throng
bv thousands to their debauchery and
ruin.
at is true that by far the greater
number of the Americans upon the
canal zone are decent, self-respecttng
men and women, but that does not
allow us to close our eyes to the fact
that there is as we'll great multitude
who are going to ruin.
"a single order signed by the presi-
dent of the United States can close
every saloon upon the zone. The VIII
of the president of the United States
expressed to the government of the
republic of Panama would close every
gin mill and every dive of the cities OF
Colon and Panama. Wholly apart from
moral considerations, there is every
reason from the standpoint of working
efficiency why this should be done.
Twenty-Five per cent of the death rate
of Americans upon the canal zone last
year is officially reported as due TO
alcoholism, and God only knows how
great a part the same evil played In
cases in which 1t is not reported.
Are cesspooIs of Vice
"I have been astounded at the ex-
istence of the social evil. in spite OF
the official denials which have been
made that it does exist upon the zone
itself, but it's presence is far more
noticeable in Colon than Panama.
am not making rash statement when
I say those two cities are cesspools OF
vice, and they are what they are by
virtue of the consent of the govern
ment of the United States. If you
could see what I have seen in those
cities; if you could see American boys
who are supposed to be engaged in the
performance of one of the greatest
works of modern civilization drunk and
dishonored in the foul dives of Colon;
If you could see American girls as
have seen them held slaves in the
foulest of slavery there! Little girls
fresh from American homes, little girls
like yours and mine, in an exile more
cruel than that of Siberia, you would
i0iY with mo in a laundering protest