Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-17
VICE CONDITIONS
IN ROCK ISLAND
HIT BY PREACHER
Rev. NJ. z. Chatley Of Memorial
Christian Church Pleads for
Cleanup of City.
TIME FOR ACTION HERE
Report Of Detectives Who Conducted
Investigation Resd-Prsises
Press for its Stand.

81 believe it Is high time FOR the pull
pits of Rock Island 10 join the press
in an effort 70 arouse public sentL
ment 10 the point Of action" said
Rev. ". z. Chatley in a sermon on
vice conditions in Rock Island at Memo
rial church last evening. While our
eyes were turned toward Mexico in the
seemingly vain hope Of discovering
a reign OF Law in the midst Of their
lewlessness," the pastor continued.
"and while ne here in Rock Island
were dwelling in supposed peace and
security. suddenly there came
tragedy so heinous and 50 horrible.
that justice cries aloud in our streets
We are hoping that justice, stern
and sure, may yet overtake the fiends
who so fouIly took the life OF Mr.
SchOesseI His murder may never be
avenged. but that does not relieve US
OF responsibility for the continuance
OF the immoral conditions that exist
in Rock Island today.
Il am not a pessirlist. like Rock Is
land We have a multitude Of splendid
= -ople here" Dir. Chatley maintained.
men and women who compare favor
ably in morals and good citizenship
with those Of any other city OF which
! have knowledge. but We have also
vicious element who will not permit
themselves to be ignored" He spoke
of the existence OF 20 houses Of ill
fame. and to 80 saloons and said IL
was time 20 stop ignoring the exist
ence Of these institutions. and do
something TO remove from the city the
stigma Of reproach it now bears.
What are conditions in Rock Is
landy' the preacher asked. Gambling
houses have been in operation tuntil
last Wednesday, and they were ruin
ing our boys. making lOafers and
criminals OF them Houses OF i'll
fame are sapping the vitality OF our
manhood. and leaving a trail OF dis
eased bodies and wrecked homes. Sa-
looms are running contrary to Law.
some without a license. ! am told. and
harboring lewd women"
HAS THE PROOF.
What do / know about it," said
the pastor. Listen, / have here a list
Of dives and gambling places; street
and number; name OF proprietOrs;
number of girls harbored for immoral
purposes, and in several instances, I
name OF party by whom protected"
Here Mr.. Chatley read extracts from !
report OF two detectives who secured /
the Information and said he had also
secured confidential medical testi- I
mony And had been astonished be- /.
~-Ond measure TO learn OF the large
percentage of men over 10 years of
age. who are now. or have been, in 7
fected with disease. resulting from
vicious indulgences. II Is estimated
by physicians that % per cent of these
cases are never permanently cured 4
while suffering and shame and humilia- /
tion are passed on to innocent chill /
dren by guilty fathers. Thirty per .
cent of all blindness Is the result of .
vice; while our asylums are filled .
with the idiotic and insane victims of .
vicious and alcoholic excuses Such .
testimony. coupled with facts. gained I
by his own investigation OF several 4
OF these dens OF infamy. led him TO
say that tine vice OF Rock Island is
sodden. vicious. degrading almost be
yond comprehension. Some women
and many men have fallen as low in
degradation and sin. lie declared. that
In comparison
COMNENDS PRESS.
The red-hot editorials i'm our city
papers the past week have pointed out
the prevalence OF vice conditions. and
have called for swift enforcement OF
law" said Mr.. Chatley- i commead
,heir fearless stand for public decency
! speak OF this tonight 10 show that
men in other walks OF life have seen
the handwriting on the wall, and al
ready have their hands upon the rope
that tolls the bell OF doom. Anu !
want To suggest that you let your edi-
tor know that you appreciate his
services al this time Would you clean
up Rock Island Then YOU must go
back 10 the fountain head OF all our
saloon II Is the breed
Ing and nesting place OF vice and
crime Nearly every gambling den