Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-11
CLERGY INSIST
VICE MUST NOT
BE SHELTERED
UNANIMOUSLY lND0RSE STAND
TAKEN BY HERALD
INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OF
UNFLINCHING CHARACTER
Problem Is Entirely Independent of
Greed, Denomination, Class or
Politics, and Concerns
Every Citizen

In
lN of all denominations in Los An
geles are expressing their appre-
citation of The Heralds efforts to settle
beyond all doubt the question as to
the possibility Of protection and con-
SeQuent encouragement OF vice. In
many pulpits yesterday reference was
made to the work of The Herald and
! in numerous Sunday schools and other
| gatherings auxiliary to the churcheS
there were statements of approval ana
| the responsibility devolving upon the
citizenship Of Los Angeles was loudly
| SenSed.
A feature of this awakening is the
evidence Of a feeling that the matter
| is of general importance and entirely
| outside of creed, denomination, class
or politics-that it calls for determined
scrutiny by every person who lives IN
Los Angeles and that the possible pro-
| lection or on-protectfon OF vice must
| be made absolutely clear.
Of the many appreciations that came
| to The Herald yesterday it is possible
to quote but few:
Rev. Robert J. Burdette said: 81
have followed with deep interest The
Herald's dignified articles written ap-
parently with a view to solve for the
people and in most convincing man
ner the question is vice protected In
Los Angeles?' / wish to commend The
Herald for the way it has gone about
handling this affair. l admire any et-
fort made to uncover vice and unmask
its protectors. When the investigator
is free from bias and conducted with
out sensational and Objectionable fea-
lures it has much more force.
Publicity the Watchword
aThere is no agency that is such a
powerful element in working reform
where vice exists as is publicity. When
thew widened the streets in New York
CITY and added more electric lights
vice quickly disappeared in that vicin-
ity. Publicity such as The Herald Is
giving affairs in Los Angeles will do
more good than any other agency IN
clearing the city of vice. The Herald
is making a strong case from day to
day and I am heartily In sympathy
with the splendid work.
''The Herald has my unquallhed sup
mort in uncovering the evidence as TO
protection of vice in Los Angeles, SAID
Rev. J. Q. A. Henry, pastor Of the FIRST
Raptist church There is immense
power in publicity and public sentiment
is built up and kept awake by truthfui
information. Any newspaper Inat WllI
give the people information concerning
protection of vice in the city must
have the earnest support of every ue-
cent and self-respecting citizen.
'sI hope that public indignation over
the apparent completely OF the otn-
cials of the city with the worst forms
of vice and crime will reach such
STAGE that their power will be broken
for the present and that they VIII be
buried for all time as far as their po-
litical aspirations are concerned.
"The ministers and the churches sup
mort The Herald in denouncing vice
and crime We can only wish Ihe Her
aid triumphant victory in the righteous
war on behalf of common decency and
public morality"
RyIand Cordially Approves
Rev. E. P. Ryland, president of the
Los Angeles Church federation. COM
posing all the evangelical Protestant
| churches of Los Angeles and Vlclnlty'
said:
Tos Angeles it should be revealed, and
those who protect it should be brought
to Justice 90 roo1+tv
nuh1ic condition when the press IS CIV
| ing itself so absolutely to the cause OF
purity and honesty in public affalrs.
"T have thought that vice was pro-
tected in Los Angeles" said Rev. A.
r. Prichard, pastor of the Central
| PRESBYTERIAN church Certain facts
| came to nv attention six months ago
which 1 considered unquest1onaole
| evidence that the police and others
| in authority were largely responsible
for the protection Of certain classes of
| vice, at least. I will be glad to DO my
mart in bringing it before my congre-
| CATION and furthering the movement
! for good government"
| Rev. c.. C. Pierce, pastor Of the Me-
mortal Baptist church, said:
| "Any paper or company Of men who
has the courage to uncover vice, or
| the protection of vice, in Los Angeles
or any other city, deserves the eternal
gratitude of all decent people. We
have prided ourselves that we have a
! CITY free from graft, but it is quite
evident that things are as bad, if not
worse than they are in any other
| American CITY While it is possible
that nothing absolute can be demon
| strated proof can be secured that large
numbers of people have been using
| their powers of public office for their
own gains. Enough has been shown
already to convince the people that in
a great many ways this is being per-
netrated. and no doubt all the honest
people will stand together and see that
| the men who have the power of public
office in Los Angeles do not use that
power for private gain instead of serv-
! ing the people as they have sworn to
do They will receive their just de-
serts. 1t seems to me that the condi-
tions in Los Angeles would make a
national scandal
Stand for the Right
Rev. w. D.. Lands, pastor Of the
Westlake Presbyterian church, had the
following to say:
publicity of the truth is the only
thing that will bring the necessary leg
islation and awake popular conscience
to stand for the right in municipal gov
ernment If evil is being protected by
! city officials, all glory to those who
let the public know the conditions.
Vice is only harbored in a city like
Los Angeles when it is unknown to
the large portion of moral voters. What
the public wants is the actual truth,
and when that IS seen it can make up
it's own mind regarding the situation.
No man has a right to encourage vice
and immortality, to subjetc the youth
of a city to extra temptations
81 say amen to every campaign for
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