Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-06-20
SAYS DANCE HALL
PERIL IS SERIOUS
Probation Officer Tells Social
Problem Conferees of DAN
ger to Children.

John ]. Gascoyne, probation officer,
was the principal speaker at the on
ference on the social problems of the
city in the First Presbyterian Church
last night, and severely denounced
the practise of several of the dance
hall proprietors in selling liquor to
minors of either sex.
The special topic Tor discussion last
| night was9 "Commercialized Amuse-
ments, with Special Reference to
Dance Halls and Summer Parks.
Miss Paula Laddey, assistant proba-
ton officer, was one of the speakers
and told in q vivid manne of the
present conditions in the dance halls
and parks
Former Sheriff Frank H. Sommer.
chairman of the Public Welfare Com
mlttee; DIR. Laban Dennis. chairman
Of the Juvenile department of the
Public Welfare Committee, and the
Rev. Dorr F.. Diefendorf. pastor Of
the Roseville Methodist Episcopal
Church, told what might be accom-
plished In bettering social conditions
in the county.
Mr.. Gascoyne said, in most cases
the moral condition In various dance
halls is bad. He stated that thirty
three dance halls in the city have
been investigated and of hat num-
Der only two were found where the
law in regard to sale of Intoxicating
liquor t. boys and girls under the age
of 81 years. and and the one refusing
girls under IS. not accompanied by
-. - ..,0x5ior Sc onfarcnd
He also said an investigation was
conducted in several of the amuse
ment parks last summer. and with
one exception. children under age of
both sexes were found unaccompanied
by parent or guardian. In some
cases children were foepd as young
as s years old as late as 1890 o'clock
in the morning.
Mr.. Gascoyne said the only way to
better conditions Is TO pass a law
similar to the one in the city of
Cleveland. Cleveland has eliminated
the liquor influence from all dance
halls. He said that all dance halls
In this city should have a matron
and a policeman paid by the city to
look after moral conditions.
Miss Laddey suggested to offset the
bad influence of the dance hall that
the a~uditoriums in the public schools
be opened for dances. She also said
that the various churches could
largely help by opening the church
doors for the young people of the
city. Miss Laddey said that through
this plan a large number of girls
would be saved.
Former Sheriff Sommer said he be-
lieved that the school auditoriums
should be open in the winter for
dances and that pa%vilions should be
built in the city and county parks SO
the young of both sexes could enjoy
dancing in summer.
The former sheriff said at the COM
m~ercialized dance hall a young girI
Is brought into contact with women
of the lowest kind and also men who
are there to lead her to ruin Mr..
Sommer said that. in most of the
dance halls boys and girls under the
age limit were allowed to enter he
halls and that liquor is sold to per-
sons under the age of twenty-one.
During the afternoon session adj
dresses were made by DR.. Julius
Levy, chairman of the health section
of the Public Welfare Committee, and
DR.. J. T. Wrightson. of the hospital
committee of the Board of Health.
The subject was Infant Mortality"