The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-07-11
Independent Reader Thinks the We.
men Who Set the Fasfions in Dress
Are In League With He'll. ~.
Minot, July 5, 1912.

MlllOI, july D, Io1E'
Dear Editor and Readers:
| Having read of late in your paper
a lot about the movement against the
white slave traffic (Which we relieve
is a noble movement, and hope the
! work may prosper), We submit the
following. Having walked the streets
of the city we see things which JUS
tify the following:
"A preacher, mere man, a nu-
man, has gone wrong and has re-
signed an important position in con-
nection with his church in an Indiana
district. He is charged with immoral
conduct, while attending an import
ant conference of his church in Min
neapolis, and the woman in the case
is reported as being prominent
member of the same denomination.
The disgraceful affair has been aired
in the papers and referred to and
commented on in the public, on the
pulpit and on the street. A certain
minister after citing such reasons for
his down fall, as being human, etc,
gave as a final cause: Society up
holds men in other walks of life who
do the same things which cause the
downfall of this pastor Society today
is fast copying the fashions OF So
dom. Women walk our streets today
and many from so called Christian
homes, who have not clothes enough
on to be called decent. Thew DO it
, because it is fashionable and fashion
: moro and more decorating tn-
way to hell.
rs the minister who presented this
| phase of the case correct in MS cOn-
illusions? Are the women who keep
up with the fashions in dress, Or
more properly undress, to blame for
the downfall of men? We are not
looking for an excuse for the Minister
who went wrong, and had to resign
his position, but we want to point to
what almost every man honestly
SAYS to himself and sometimes out
loud On indecent appearance in
dress. TIE condition is one that de-
serves the censure of the press and
pulpit. If all the wrong doing we're
caught ard exposed it would amaze
the public. The situation is alarm
ing Were all the evils exposed the
most strict publication would become
as yellow as could be to keep up
| with the OCCASION
"The negligee gowns of the rel
light districts of the large citiea
compare creditably with MANY that
appear upon our public streets, in
stores and offices. Had woman ap-
peared in public a few years ago as
hundreds do now she would at once
have been set down as a resident
Of the white slave district. Are
women losing their modesty and with
it their self resect that they will
for the sake of ultra fashion expose
u,
men upon every corner Where will
| the craze for immodest or immoral
| appearance Ill dress or undress enl'''
"From all over this country comes
| the sentiment of womans rights. for
| woman's suffrage. Is she not getting
| pretty close to mans place in her
| one-legged apparel. It would appear
| that some of the discussions in favor
| Of woman's rights could with aGvan-
| tage be turned to the common sense
| in woman'e dress" At least the sub
ject should be sufficiently discussed
and agitated as to cause woman to
decently and comfortably clothe her
person before she is privileged to
decide public affairs at the ballot
box n '"'# '4@. ..&"2.&f
There is no sane reason for the
present style Of dress or rather ex-
posure of form or person. There IS
no sensible excuse for it. It Ia con
ducive to poor health, discomfort
bad morals. No matter what the
| weather, women and girls appear en-
the strtets, in the store and office
| with arms bare to shoulder, neck
! bare to bust line and scarcely more
than enough goods in the skirt to
make one trousers leg. A practicing
| physician redicts there will be more
illness and death the coming year
because OF improper dress among
women than from any other cause.