Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-08-30
MORAL COWARDICE.

This world is full of people who
have no trouble in finding fault with
others and with conditions. They pose
as exponents Of morality, and hold up
their hands in holy horror when they
view infractions of the law. They are
always ready to crticfse public oii1-
clals for non-enforcement of laws
and upbraid newspapers because they
do not expose fragrant violations.
Yet when the official or the newspa-
per asks the assistance of these
individuals in prosecutions, they at
once retreat into their shells and re-
fuse to commit themselves. They are
entirely willing that others shall bear
the brunt of the fight, and the oppro-
brium, so long as they may remain
concealed in the background and car
ry on the battle. These people are
moral towards and candor compels
the statement that many Of them are
found among the alleged moral re
formers" who pose as such under the
cloak of religion.
A conspicuous example of this cow
ardce is found in the recent vice in
vestigations in Portland and subse-
quent attempts of the officials to pros
ecute vice commission, composed
mainly of clergymen, took it upon it
self to discover the fostering plague
spots in the Rose City. 1t investigat-
ed and it reported The report said
that "Blank owned a building which
was used for immoral purposes The
report contained many of these blanks
and when the district attorney asked
that the names of the owners be Civ
en-, the investigators demurred. That
was another matter. The faithful
guardians of the morals of Portland
became cringing towards when face
to face with all that these disclosures
might mean. Their weak defense of
their action was voiced by Rev. II. r.
Talbot, chairman of the vice commits
sion, who said:
"Whle there is in our report suf-
ficient data to satisfy any reasona-
BILE man of the existence of condi-
tions as we have reported them,
great amount of it is of such nature
that It will not hold in court as full
cause for Indictment and prosecu-
ton. Therefore, even If the mem
bers of the Commission are sum-
moned to testify before the grand |
jury, | very much doubt if their tes-
timony will prove of practical legal |
value.
The Vice Commission was APP !
pointed not as a prosecuting, but |
as an investigating body, 1t had
not to do with persons, but with
conditions Much of the informa-
ffn, .t,og ,htofn.H upHar pnn1ittpnc
that make II almost aimpossibe to |
divulge it. Some of it could not
well be thrown open, because it |
would involve innocent people.
"Had it been our understanding |
when we were appointed that the
object of the commissions work was
to be that of a prosecuting instead |
of an investigating body, ! doubt if |
any member would have been will /
ing to serve. our report was pre-
pared and submitted rather as
something to arouse the public |
mind to the conditions and direct /
public opinion to seek for some So
luton of the problem, than to fur
nsh evidence on which To base a
campaign of criminal prosecutions"
These men We're willing enough To .
pose as heroic moral martyrs so long .
as it didn't cost anything or involve 1
them personally in the controversy. .
They We're willing to "smell'' but their I
moral obligation TO the city ended, II /
apears, with the scent Innocent /
persons might be involved" says
Preacher Talbot Possibly some of |
the innocent persons" might be con F.
tributors TO his yearly salary, or prob I
ably they help pay the running eX-
penses, and buy the fuel, and suhstan-
TALLY subscribe for the new carpet /
for the church. They may ne aud T
probably are. influential men in the .
community. ana so they must be 1
shielded. Therefore. the cowardly +.
commission placed the blanks In their .
report and now do not dare face the I
grand jury and tell ALL they know +
about conditions
Shame ON such hypocrisy. The .