The Washington herald., 1913-09-21
Seeks to FIJI in the Time Of the Poor Between Sundown
and Bedtime With Amusements That
Are Elevatng.

problems OF New York are the problems
of other large cities. More than 10000
children under sixteen years of age are
arrested annually in New York. We have
one saloon for every eighty families. One
person in every twenty-nine Is yearly
taken into custody by the police. What
have we accomplished by our liquor
laws? Conditions, in my opinion, have
been made worse.
Then the State Of New York has a
mandatory law against gambling.
would say. under the democracy which l
have in my vision. that gambling should
be left entirely TO the community or the
municipality. / would put IL in the hands
of the ruling civil body and say: Gentle
men, il is your problem. Work It out
according to your circumstances and your
lights
There is not a particle OF difference
between playing poker and playing the
stock market. II is no worse morally to
bet on a horse race than to bet on the
rise or fall of shares. Different classes
of men engage in the different ventures.
but all are trying to get something for
nothing, and so one class Is no more CEN
surable than another.
And fnally,' Mr.. Howe went on TO
say I'VE come to what is known as the
social evil. No man since civilization be-
gan has been wise enough to clear that
question up satisfactorily. II is largely
economic. in my Judgment. Hundreds of
young women in this city went on a
strike recently. They had been earning
$50 a week.
"Other girls, thousands of them. in bet
ter places, are getting from $ to IS a
week. They must be tastefully dressed.
Those who do not live at home sleep in
miserable rooms. They have no place to
spend the evening. Starved for compan-
ionship, they may go to the dance halls
with young men whom they chance to
meet Some escape; some do not.
The People Want to BE Good.
Now I would leave liquor selling.
gambling, the social evil. and all such
matters to the cities themselves and not
drag them into our State legislatures.
Americans are the wisest people on
earth. Our clubs and societies in every
part of the country, none OF which, mind
you. has any official authority, show
that we are interested in social and edu-
cational questions.
Foreigners who come here are sur
prised at the active and intelligent part
We take in debating and studying civic
problems. All OF the great cities OF
anu nlthlcN al lLllNS "NAC AANN.
would make our cities free. Everything
should be open and honest. Nothing
more should be said than what We mean.
"As it is we say: This cannot be law
fully done And then We go and do II.
Laws will not change our inclinations;
education will. Bavaria until lately,
was the greatest beer-drinking nation in
the world. The consumption of beer has
been cut down one-half because the peo-
pie have been instructed about the eco
nomic waste of intemperance. Convince
a man that he is wasting his money, ap-
peal to his common sense, and you can
do more with him than can Congress in
Washington or the Legislatures Of our
States"
Would you close the saloons on Sun
day?' / asked.
That would depend on-the sentiment
Of the community. Whatever is done,
however, should be done openly. Regula-