The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-21
City Commissioners
Visited by Big Crowd
on Dance Pavilion
lCtys Leading Men and Women Interested in Civic and
Moral Welfare Packed Commission Chamber
Men and Women Both Sides of Question Presented Diff
ferent Views of Park Dance Pavilion -
Skevs Walters and Peterson Judge Guptill Mrs Alex
Stern, H. Amerland, Mrs. Poplar and Others Heard

The city commissioners chamber
was packed this morning with a large
delegation Of Fargo's representative
men and women who are taking an ac-
tive part in the agitation over the
lgranting Of the license to Henry Hec-
tor for the operation Of dance pavil-
ion in Island park.
Expressions were voiced from those
who are leaders on both sides Of the
Question. A large number OF the city's
prominent men and women, active in
ministerial, social reform and civic
imI rovement circles, were present and
addressed the commissioners.
Henry Hector has applied for a IL
cense to conduct his dancing pavilion
IN Island park during the present year
BY the passage Of a resolution intro
duced some time ago by Commissioner
lJordan, the commission has already
gone on record as being opposed to the
granting of the license. The Jordan
resolution carried by vote of to 1.
Commissioner Ames taking the stand
that the adoption Of such resolution
before Mr.. Hector had even applied
for a license was somewhat in the ma
ture Of discrimination. ...s .
City Attorney Shure rendered an
opinion to the commission that under
the provisions of the ordinance, the
! city auditor could not refrain from is
suing such license If applied for and
maid for with the required fee, which
thas been complied with in Mr.. Hec-
tors case.
City Auditor watkins has not yet
granted tn" license and the matter is
again before the commission. City
Attorney Shure's opinion was reread
this morning together with the ordi-
nance.
Judge w. H. Barnett appeared be-
fore the commission In behalf of Mr..
Hector. He asked the commission to
instruct Mr.. Watkins to issue the IL
cense. He stated the city auditor had
Irefrained from that step on the ad-
vice Of one commissioner, whose name
was not mentioned.
Judge Barnett then submitted a ne
itition circulG ted yesterday by Mr.. Hec
tor which asked for the granting of the
license and voiced the opinion that the
dancing pavilion was not the breeding
place Of vice among the young people
who frequent the place. To this petit
tion we're affixed, the signatures Of a
number of the residents of the imme-
diate vicinity OF the pavilion and a
number Of oSher leading citizens of the
3 city, including Judge and Mrs. Charles
II r. Amidcn and Mrs. Alex stern.
-+-~sThe petition heard the arguments
for and against the pavilion. Speak
! ing against 1t were Judge A. B. Guptfil,
Rev. A. p. Peterson OF the First Bap-
ft.st church and president OF the Far
go Moorhead Ministerial association: I:
Rev. J. NJ. Walters, D. D., of the First
Methodist church; Secretary Goodwin
of the, boys department of the Y, M.
lC. A: Miss Guernsey of the Y w. C.
"a, Sec. Ray Sweetman of the North
Dakota Agricultural college Y. M. C.
"a, Miss Barbara Hazel, H. Amerland,
Nv. J. Clapp, and Taylor Crum.
Those neard in favor Of the dancing
pavilion conducted under regulation
wers Mrs. Alex Stern and Mrs. Irlna
Erwin Poplar, the city police matron,