Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-09
PROTECTED VICE

n ISGRACEFUL conditions exist in
the Second, Third and Eighth
n wards, owing to the existence of
vicious grog shops or blind pigs which,
disguised as restaurants, are to be
found at various points along San Fer
nando, Buena Vista, Main and other
streets near the Plaza. AS if to empha-
size a strong protest made by residents
of this vice-infested district, stabbing
brawl, in which one man was fatally
wounded and two were badly injured,
disturbed the Sunday peace of the city.
If vice were not protected in Los An
geles, would Sundays record of blood
shed have been possible? If vice were
not protected in Los Angeles, would
respectable Mexican citizens need to
appeal for protection from protected
vice?
If vice were not protected, why should
those Mexican citizens be subjected to
the brutal jibes of a discredited mayor
when they protest against the unspeak-
able debauchery of their brothers?
1t is absurd to claim that vice is not
protected in Los Angeles, and that all
the fermentation of the underworld is
the result of conditions which would
exist if the decency and moral welfare
of the city had been taken care of.
Ye who may have a lingering doubt
as to whether or no vice is protected in
Los Angeles, read the following pas
sage from the appeal of members of
the Spanish Presbyterian church, then
make up your mind to do your duty
toward your brethren as well as toward
yourselves and families by voting for
George Alexander and decent as We'll
as Greater Los Angeles:
"Our reasons for protesting are that
many of our Mexican brothers are con-
stantly being debauched at these places,
where they are served vile liquors and
encouraged to spend their scant saw
ings. These unfortunates are frequent
ly robbed of their money and encour-
aged to drink to such an excess as to
cause their arrest and Imprisonment.
AS a result of the existence of these
places of debauchery, scores of worthy
families, including many needy chill
liz
port which they should and would re-
ceive but for the fact that their money
is taken from them in all sorts of I'M
scrupulous ways, their confidence be-
ing imposed upon by American and
italian harpies whom they are told
they can trust, and their unsophisti-
ctaed minds are no match for the own
ers of these vicious resorts.
"In the name of humanity and JUS
tice we protest against this imposition
upon our countrymen, and call upon
you to suppress these places, which we
understand are illegal and which are
conducted openly before patrolmen and
other officials of the police depart
ment."
The Mexican protesting petition was
filed!
One reason given for filing it was
failure to specify names of violators
and give addresses of places which
broke the law, the police thus confessing
that If the citizens themselves did not
furnish the guardians of the peace"
with this information these guardians
would be at a loss and would not know
which way to turn. This recalls the
fact that when the Slavonians made
their complaint their petition was
explicit. The names of twenty
five places were given. and in each
case testimony as to law breaking could
have been produced. But that petition
too went on file, and the subsequent
history of this case is expressed in two
little words-"Nothing doing"