The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-05

the immoral characters whose work
they seek to overthrow. there vas d
proper spirit Of moderation and an ap-
probation OF. what ! have for years
been trying to present; namely, that
apparently much Of the sin and rice
IN the world results from ignorance
and superstition, and should not be &C.
credited wholly 10 devilishness OF in
tention. Nevertheless, we must all
agree that whatever the inspiring mo-
hyes, there are people whose vicious
conduct can scarcely be characterized
as other than wicked, sensual, devil
ish; and the Apostle Jude is our au.
thority for using these terms.
The welfare Of children was careful
~ discussed. 1t was demonstrated
that In the families OF the very poor.
ideals OF chastity are unknown. These
children POSSESS knowledge Of sex mat
ters beyond their years; and, mingling
with others in the public schools, like
an infectious plague they poison the
moral atmosphere of the entire school,
suggesting immoral practises to those
whose parents have sought carefully
to maintain their purity.
The parental duty of giving children
proper conceptions of the sanctIty OF
their bodies was set forth. The CHILD
needs, not large instruction. but sim
ply confidence in the parent, and the
information that It's body Is sacred,
pure, holy, and belongs to God, and
that whoever violates its sanctity7 sins
against God. This much information
should be given to the child before Il
enters the public school. Indeed, first
lessons In vice are sometimes given In
the kindergarten, Notwithstanding the
teachers watchful eye. The child
should have the assurance that the
parent will give further instructions
later on; and should have such conf
dence in the parent that 1t would be
content to wait for the further infor-
nation which every child's mind seeks
regarding itself and its origin.
It was pointed out, however, that
comparatively few parents know how
to breach this subject in a profitable
manner. Alas, what have our schools
and churches done, or not done. for
these fathers and mothers! If they
had received useful information help
full to their lives, no doubt church at
tendance would be much larger than 1t
Is today. Are we to see young boys
start in bad habits that will injure
their health and that Of their posteri-
ty? The answer is, No! Yet great
care should be exercised that thorough
sex instruction be not given too early,
lest the very evil be encouraged which
1t was sought to guard against.
The age Of thirteen to fifteen, ac-
cording to the child's intelligence,
seems to be the critical age when clear
knowledge Is quite necessary to save
the child from the evil which has al
ready overtaken so many. Statistics
indicate that boys and girls are es-
pecially subject to temptation through
ignorance between the years Of thir-
teen and eighteen, when the forces OF
nature are breaking forth, Just as
trees bud In springtme. The parent
who rules his child with loving intel
ligence rather than brute force should
have the child's confidence at this age.
The parents are the Godgiven instruc-
tors and protectors Of their families.
Nothing can excuse them from this,
either church work or SUM work, or
even Bible study.
Tho Minimum Of Wages.
It was brought out that FIVE Of u
great states have already legislated
on the subject Of the minimum wage
for female employees and Of the hours
during which they may be legally em-
ployed. Amongst these the three high
est In appreciation seem to be Oregon,
Iowa, and Minnesota. with evidences
that the laws Of the last named state
represent the best features of all pre-
vious legislation on the subject.
The story Of the battle to secure bet
ter regulations Of vice and better
hours and wages for female laborerB
was told In detail. In various ways
the opponents Of righteousness sought
to ctrcumvent the legislation 90 i'm
peratively needed by the people whom
they represented. And so far az we
could learn, female suffrage and the
active and Intelligent labors Of self
sacrificing women have been largely
influential In effecting the rectihcation
Of the laws. We surely did rejoice in
this. II the giving Of the franchise to
women shall mean better laws, more
righteousness and purity in Dur nation,
we surely all would agree that female
suffrage could not come too soon.
Our thought heretofore has been that
In Gods order the family is a unit, Of
which the husband Is the head; and
that the votes Of these heads should
properly protect every family interest.
There is another side to the ques
ton, however, well worthy OF consid-
eration;, namely, the fact that sin has
disordered all the affairs and interests
Of life. 1t may be that under the stress
Of present conditions no wiser thing
could be done than to give the ballot
to women. The most powerful argu-
ment to the contrary is the conduct Of
some extreme suffragettes who wait
neither for God, order and time, nor
for the ripening Of human thought on
the subject, but seem utterly reckless
as respects life, property and principles
Of righteousness. nj. r.
The White Slave Traffic.
Perhaps many Of us have consider
ed the expression white slave traffic
a fiction Of some o~ver-Zealous reform
nv. h,Ik mo% go Nm tho vary hast N {,