The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-09-09
OFFICER MATHIS ON MORALS
Writes Article Which, II True. Shows
Terrible State Of Condi.
tions in City.

Disclosures that are made In an
article written by Officer Mathis and
offered for publication are of start
ling nature and show, If true, ter
rible state of conditions in North
Yakima. The following is the letter
in full:
There is city that nestles under
the shadow of the Cascade mountains
which is most beautiful to behold
and in it is some of the most magnifi-
cent homes that can be found no.
where else on this Pacific slope. Sur
rounding some of these homes are
flowers and rich luscious fruit,
mingled with architecture forming
embellishments of fancy that puts to
shame and insignificance Washington
Irving's Alhambra by Moonlight in
the isles beyond the seas or the
Island of Delos, dedicated to the
gods by the Greeks where no un-
friendly foot ever pressed it's soil. In
this city in material condition It's
present is all that an idealist can
wish, and its future in a commercial
way is assured beyond doubt: and
the horn of plenty has filled her lap
TO overlooking with rich fruits,
grapes that ripen in the eternal sun
light, that pleases the sense of taste
with a satisfaction that can not be
forgotten. Strange and chimerical
as it seems surely with the possible
tiles and present greatness there
could exist conditions so at variance
with the external beauty of this COM
mercial center
What I shall further relate will
appear almost like sacrilege, yet it
is true, nevertheless Here in this
little country village is citizenship
that is homogeneous and cosmopoli-
tan that makes strange amalgama-
ton of sentiments, habits and GUS
toms that represent almost every
point of the globe. What l will relate
begun some seven or eight months
ago. and I feel ! am safe in saying a
period of two years or more. But |
begun to know the events about
seven or eight months ago. There
was certain business place on 4
prominent avenue where it was the
custom for little girls to meet and
older girls and married women also,
and here dates were made and young
men and youths and married men
met to lay plans to practice demon
eyed harlotism under the guise of
social intercourse. ] have seen men
cali up young girls and make dates
with them who were old enough to be
their father. I remember saying to
one man do not keep your date with
that child. for I will protect her II
you do. I called the girl by name
and said l have something to say to
YOU, girl I have talked to many of
these children, for they We're not of
legal age and. accompanied them to
their homes, and as I recall scenes
where a young, slender, child-like
form was quivering and sobbing with
heart broken. she related her life
where these human vultures had
torn from her warm embrace her
virtue, and to listen to these state
ments and remain in a mental frame
of mind to advise and counsel was a
herculean task. I have seen married
women and married men meet under
the shadow of buildings consummat-
ing dates made at the above named
place. have seen youths with a
hardihood born of a frenzied braz-
enry that stamps them demon-a
human ghoul ! will relate some of
the things I have heard fall from the
lips of some of these youths of both
sexes. "Why do YOU lecture us, why
some of the very best people here are
guilty of what you lecture us for, !"
and in this connection I want to say
that this was a blow of an arch fiend,
coming from the lips of boys and
girls that are in their teens is hor-
ror infinite To those of mature
years and fathers and mothers here
is a curse. a life long curse, which
will entail its nightmare of horror
beyond the lives of these debased
and unfortunate children, and with
its serpentine crawl, its filth and
slime of debauchery. will faint and
soil the lives of those yet unborn.
Think of the term. "Best people
guilty Of what you lecture us for"
uttered viii a frankness and familiar
way that tells a tale when followed
to its conclusion would make the
carniverous beasts in the moonlit
hedges in the wilds of Africa blush
with shame To you of mature years
and to you fathers and mothers this
lustful traffic in the warm blood Of
virtue in the young and tender child
life are in a great measure RESPONSE
bic for your lack of advise and fra
ternal and maternal discipline. Many
OF these have been called to account
and in their defense they would
plead spare my home of this blight
ing. whitening touch of the microbes
called public opinion. and some Of
these fathers and mothers plead
spare my child this dis grace that Will
crush her life forever; and spare me
the pain that will come to me if it is
made public. ! hate such things
with lasting hatred. That could not
keep me from saying in the name Of
the law you are walking skeletons
with your eyeless sockets and flesh
less hands you have the vulture in
stincts with the heart of snake and
the conscience of hyena: walking
the streets of this beautiful city seek
ing someone's wife, someone's
daughter. some young child life TO
despoil on the unholy lustful altar OF