The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-12
A MODERN SODOM.

Those who visit San francisco re-
late stories of the profligacy and dissi.
patton OF that city which II true, is
food for serious consideration. 1t is
but few years since visitation ol
nature wrecked the metropolis of the
Pacific coast and left death and de-
existing in the city previous to that
gave rise to the theory of many that
punishment inflicted by the hand OF
Providence.
Sermons were preached and the aw.
full catastrophe held up as an example
of the results of wickedness.
The municipal affairs Of the city
were OF such a rotten character as to
attract the attention of the world and
the efforts at reformation the institu.
tion of prosecutions and the attemr,
to punish the offeders was commend
ed by the good people throughout the
United States.
San Francisco Phoenix like has
arisen from its ashes.
Stately buildings stand where the
ruins of the earthquake lay in an en-
tangled and indistinsuishabl mass.
A golden stream of wealth has
been constantly flowing into the resus
citated industries of the city since its
rehabiliment was commenced and as
a consequence it has been the attrac
tion for the adventurous spirits, OF
all the world Here today Is collected
probably as cosmopolitan a popula
tion as can be found in any city OF the
globe-the courtesan. the gambler the
thug and the crook find here prolific
field for their peculiar avocations.
Night is turned into day and the
glare of electricity dazzles with greater
briliancy than the rays of the noon
day sun.
The city is advertised to the world
as an open town. Open to everything
that has for its object the concentra-
ton of glittering baubles that appeal
TO the fancy of the depraved, that con
tribute to the destruction of the soul
Wine and women rules. the one
pandering to the nappcasable ap-
petite, the other pandering to the
depravity of the passions.
San Francisco, in its palmest days
before the quake-neyer equalled in
its depths of beastly DEGRADATION, the
conditions that prevail today The
human vulture ever ready to despoil
its victim finds protection by auth1ri-
tative edict The revenues are reek-
ing with the filth of their corrup,iyc
source and are pocketed by officials
whose consciences are scared and
whose rapacity is inestimable.
Corruption stalks with haugfhty
and untamed head in the public high
ways ard vies with the cannaiile in
the orgies of criminal characteristics.
Where will be the end? Wha, will
lie the outcome Has the lesson of
the earthquake been forgotten or is
there no public sentiment that gives
heed to the dangers of unrestricted Ii
cense?
The sins of Socom and Gomorrah
are not merely mythical effusions
without moral The glories Of
Babylon and the ancient cities Of the
Adriatic were engulfed in the storms
that succeeded the transgression Of
moral laws. The visitation Of the Al
mighty is no chimerical consequence
of Illogical reasoning, it is the newt
able result of sin just the same with
cities and communities and nations
as It is with individuals and just as
certain as the commission of some
physical folly is followed by the pun
fshment Of the body.
San Francisco may well take heed
OF the consequences that are sure 10
follow it's DISREGARD of OUTRAGED virtue
and justice and the song OF tonight
will be followed by the moan OF the
A city Is what its people make 1t.
Il can be a power for good or an
influence for evil. 1t can point men 10