The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-10-07
MINISTERS PROTEST.


loves righteousness, who cares at all
for the welfare of the rising genera
ton, who values the good name and
the moral cleanness of our city, must
approve and applaud the brave words
of Alderman Clapp at Mondays meet
ing Of the city council. 1t is encour-
aging to know that five other alder
men showed the courage or their con-
victions by voting with him upon
resolution urging the executive on
cials to enforce the law against places
of prostitution in this city.
Whether or not the passage Of
resolution upon this matter was tech
nically within the scope OF the coun-
ciPs authority, the matter itself VII
tally concerns every member of the
council and every other citizen as
well. Not, therefore, as Christian
ministers, but as citizens VINO are at
least bound to be leaders In matters
of public morals, and who desire that
we may lead a peaceapIe life in all
Goodness and honesty, we wish to
speak Of this community as seriously
and strongly as we are able to do.
The issue is perfectly plain one.
The laws Of the state and the city are
being openly and systematically def1ed.
The most insidious and far reaching
Of all yices-the cancer which has de-
stroyed, and will always Destroy in
dividuals, families and communities
is practically legalized among us. We
ere disgraced and we are in danger.
Never, we believe, was this evil in our
city greater and more menacing than
1t is now. The words Of Alderman
Clapp were not overdrawn; much more
might have been said. There is only
one place for conscientious men to
stand, and that is with Mr.. Clapp and
the aldermen who honorec themselves
by voting with him. in tne demand
that this abomination shall cease.
The matter has been left in the
hands Of the mayor, where, no doubt,
1t properly belongs. lie certainly is
responsible for the enforcement of all
laws, whether they enjoy his personal
approval or not. We hope-we wish
to believe--that he intends to enforce
this one; and to that end we pledge
him again, as we have frequently done
before, our cordial ana hearty sup
port
1t ought not to be necessary to say
more, but the discussion and the vote
in the council, shows that something
more needs to be said. Tnere are men
of standing who seem to believe that
because human nature Is weak and be-
cause this vice has always prevailed
in some degree, 1t should therefore
be recognized and provided for; that
crimes of fornication znd adultery
are TO be allowed. and certain places
and persons set apart for the syste-
matte commission Of those crimes It
is an astonishing proposal! 1t is as
logical to propose that because there
have always been thefts and murders
therefore certain places should be pro-
vided where men OF thievish disposi-
tions and of violent ternpers may go
and commit these crimes upon GER
tain persons set apart to be robbed
and murdered And this is called q
sound and business-like and COM
mon sense view OF the matter"
Again we are told that unless this
evil is confined to a fixed district II
will spread over the entire city. In.
other words, we are 70 maintain In
one ward OF the city and outrage
agaist public morals and decency In
order that each OF us may live more
pleasantly In 1lis own ward. AS to
scattering the contagion into blocks
and residences we assure the COM
munity that 1t is there already: and
we venture to assert that conditions
In other quarters or the city are al
INways made worse, and not better, when
this unspeakable disgrace IL winked
at and "reguiated'' by authority.
We must say q nnal word concern
ing the statement which has been
made that the wiping out OF the places