Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-29
CONTEMPORARY TO
FIGHT HIGH PRICES
Holds Business Conference and
Decides to Form House.
wives League.
TO HOLD MASS-MEETlNG
FEB. 9 AT CENTRAL M. E.
"commerciaIized Vice" to Be
Principal Topic-0anee
Hall Problem Discussed.

A mass-meeting will be held Sunday
afternoon. February 9, at the Central
Methodist Episcopal Church. under
the auspices of the social service COM
mittee of the Contemporary
The announcement was made at the
meeting of the Contemporary yester-
day. The subject will be CONNER
cialized Vice"
Mrs. William S. Disbrow, president
of the club, presided at the business
meeting. 1t was decided to form a
housewives league.
Mrs. Henry NJ. Dawson, chairman
of the civic committee, announced a
monthly conference of the sectional
committee on social evil, at the Wiss
building, on Thursday afternoon,
February s. at 2:30.
Announcement was made that the
Board of Education has granted
permission to use the public schools
during February and March for the
purpose of instructing mothers IN
matters of social hygiene.
Discusses Dance Halls.
Miss Paula Laddey presided at the
meeting, which was devoted to the
consideration of recreation in its va
rious phases. The first speaker, Mrs
Morris G. Alexander, former chair
man of the dance hall committee OF
the Public Welfare Committee, gave
the results of Investigations made by
her committee in the various dance
halls of this city. Mrs. Alexander
said that there are about ninety
dance halls in Newark. most of them
back rooms closely connected with
saloons Admission TO the majority
of them is free and the profit to their
owners results from the drinks SOLO
during the evening, with no regard
TO age or sex. The average age OF
the girls frequenting these places Is
Is or IS; of the boys, 10 or ~ IN
sanitary conditions prevail in many
of the halls and intoxication, even OF
minors is not infrequent. The speaker
suegested as remedies for the eX-
listing evils the opening OF the puplle
schools for dancing and social recrea-
ton, and proper legislation. she
called attention to the fact that the
Public Welfare Committee has draft
ed and sent to the Legislature a Bill
recurring for the operation of pubic
dance halls a license costing $40, TO
be procured from the Board Of Free
holders after careful investigation OF
the moral character of the proprle-
tor. who must reside in the county
a year before the granting of the
license. The bill also provides for the
revocation of license for disorderiy or
Immoral action. Mrs. Alexander re-
nuested the women to write to the
legislators urging the passing of the
bill pointing out that since dance
halls must exist for the recreation OF
Young people 1t is the duty of every
member of the community to see that
they are of high moral character.
Outlines Plan of Work.
Miss Cara May Adams, general sec
retary of the Y. w. c. A, outlined
the plans of work in the new build
ing, saying that it was because the
directors recognized the Importance
of recreation that they planned the
administration building before they
did the boarding home. One floor
will be devoted entirely to recrea-
ton. In the assembly hall 1t is
expected there will be two dances
week. motion pictures, music by a
large chorus and dramatic work. The
problem of getting the proper type
of young men to introduce to the
young girls who go to the assoeia-
tion for dancing is one, Miss Adams
said, that. not only the local, but
the national association is trying to
solve. There will be club rooms, a
swimming pool, well equipped gym
nasium, in which it is expected to
have dancing at noon, and special
arrangements to care for the girls
Between 10 and is.
Bascom Johnson, secretary of the