New-York tribune., 1909-03-31
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
REGULATION OF DANCING ACADEMIES
Needed to Protect Girls from Ruin-Liquor
Should Be Prohibited

I To the Editor of The Tribune.
I Sir: VIII you extend the courtesy Of your col
umns matter of importance-'the need Of
! regulating dancing academies? For years they
| have been a source of danger to the community
/ and moral menace to the young girls frequenting
| them. An investigation carried on by the commit
| tee on amusements and vacation resources of
working girls has revealed a shocking condition of
affairs. A large number of girls, yielding their
natural love Of the dance have been attracted to
! these academies. There they begin career of
promiscuous social intercourse. which has not sell
( dom ended in the TenderIoin Hundreds of girls
go to these academies unescorted and without the
knowledge of their parents, There they meet the
loud sport the fascinating -'spieler,'' who
tempts them to take their first drink in the bar
room This room is situated the dance hall floor.
1t stares the girls, Oyerheated from the dance, IN
the face. Few girls resist It's lure after
peated Invitations. The novice begins with a
drink, and progresses TO other drinks not soft.
From the dance hall the barroon1, from the bar
room TO run-this is the story OF the dance hall
victim.
Society owes these girls protection The dane
ing academies have not been regulated. Men with
vicious intentions are liberty to open dane
ing academy under present conditions They are
/ inspected They not licensed. and they sell
liquor to young girls who it for the first time
in those places. The selling Of liquor the same
floor with the dancing academy should be prOhib-
tied. and, II practicable, il should not be per-
mtted the premises
Assemblyman Graubard, of the Gth District. in
the heart of the lower East Side, where many of
these dancing academies located, has intro
duced a bill in the Legislature providing for the
adequate regulation of dancing academies. He has
abandoned his original measure. which, though
lauda bic intention. TOO inclusive measure
10 be acceptable But realizing the importance of
immediate legislation he Is cooperating with the
committee on amusements and vacation resources
Of working girls the Peoples Institute, the Ethical
Social League and other substantial civic bodies
and has introduced a modified bill 1t is Assembly
bill No. sos Senator Newcomb is sponsor for the
hill in the Senate With his able cooperation the
rneas sure has been carefully drawn and represents
one step in the movement for amusement reGu-
Iation The dance hall habit is the price the work
ing girl is paying for socetys neglect Of normal
need The girl who is doyetaed in a system where
the division of labor subjects eight hours Of
rnonotonous drudgery works to exist, but not to
live She lives in her recreation, and she takes it
at an affair in dancing academy win an
abandon which means refuge from the factory
grind Shall we permit the buoyant gayety OF m
nocent girIhood be desecrated by inscriptions
men?
The bill does not affect far greater evil-the
saloon dance hall-where the dance Is but mel
dental TO the drinking, and where the social eVh Is
Aaunted without disguise. The advocates OF the
C,rarba I'd -NewConb measure realize the SERIOUSNESS
s-5 +ba extent of these moral plague spots. They
are convinced. however, that hasty legisIauoh ul-
Tecte5 against them is i'll advised and futile The
nrobIer1 is so complex and interlinked with 'he
noverfuI liquor interests that a policy OF luIIheI
Investigation and studied procedure is necessary
ts,-a an effective measure can be framed The
CIrauba I'd -Newcomb bill is an opening wedge Il
represents but one attempt at the control OF
rnents: the moving picture consorship' Anol
C+ber suggestions it is hoped will be forthcom-
ing in the direction of establishing a oenm'e poI
io& Of constructive recreation for the people.
- HENRY MOSKOWITZ.
Downtown Ethical Society
New York March q, 1909.