The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-30
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 80. 1914
MAJORS ORDER NOT THE FIRST BLOW.

MAJORS ORDER NOT THE FIRST BLOW.
Despite the statsrnant OF the Iuchnnnd Epe
ssng Journal to the contrary. the order issued
hy Mayor Ainsie calling FOR the closing OF the
houses In TIE segregated district on 1hanhEg'f-
irg night nsitbar the first blow toward the
closing Of the digtTlct nor the last step In the
preliminary work looking toward that end
Mayor Ainslie has stated that he does not he
lieve the enforcement OF the law aga!nst the
Ing with the problem of social vice Mayor Aims
lie has been supported in his view by three Of
the Richmond newspapers. the Times, Dispatch
the he'os Leader. and the Eoentaa Journal
Only last Friday the Nctos Leader printed the
following inquiry from, o.e Of its subscribers.
Editor the News Leader:
In your issue of Noys4nbcr % noticed that
tns Mayor had given orders to the police 10 ar
rest all peYsons who attempt to enter the sectc-
gated district Thanksgiving day or night VIII
yon Please answer, through your ia per. II ne
had the authority to GO this and II he had the
authority of Thanks giving has he not the same
authority on any oIher day And Ii II Is a good
thing to close thie district for one day. would it
not be good thing 10 close 1t all other days7
II 1t Is thought necessary to close 1t one day TO
take the temptation out of the way of our visit
ing young men. why shoold it be necessary
to close 1t all other days To take the temptation
out Of the way OF the young of our own
city. H. c. MASON
The gist Of the Aesos Leaders reply to Mr.
Nason's inquiry was that I'VE are frank to tell
him that We do not know how expedeut 1t may
h. "a NAL m rufe ~ Tnark vii ri, oF
GAe year" And thus In terms OF "expediency."
the Nesos Leader supports the action of the
Mayor and Police Commissioners In refusing to
enforce the Law they havs sworn to enforce.
The Richmond Eoenimg Journal in reporting
the order Of the Mayor In response to the request
of certain ministers Of the city. stated repeatedly
THAI this move was taken as the first blow at
ginning Of the end all as the result Of the policy
At Segregation having proven It's own inefn-
ciency. The Journal var and is, mistaken Ia
THU statement Of the cage. The V,rotnidn has
repeatedly urged the abolition of the segregated
district. In compliance with the law of the Com
Dcnwealth. and at the last session of the Lcgs.
1ature The IrgintGn alone Of all the four Rich
cage OF bill aimed al the existence of these
pest spots In our Virginia cities notably Nor.
folk and Richmond The rtrgintaa would have
won its fight. in fact had its night. but in
the last hours, in tho dying days of the Legisla-
ture the flibustering tactics Of Senator Hart OF
Roanoke defeated the passage OF the bill that
otherwise would have passed aud would have
res;ulted In the abolition Of these districts The
action of the Mayor. therefore, is not the first
blow at this great evil of the greatest that
sfHicts our city. The action Of the Mayor came
n result OF the awakening OF the public con
science on the question of the practice OF vice
under the open and avowed protection or the law.
The sermon OF a leading minister, and the action
Of others in requesting the Mayor to close the
district Thanksgiving night, were concrete ex-
pressons >of the reawakened public conscience
that opposes as contradictory OF all sound prin-
1ipIes OF morality and government the protec-
ton by the city authorities of the greatest con-
centrated evil Ia city, that the assurance
has been given of the abolition Of the licensed
saloon.
That there would be revulslon of feeling from
the fragrant and shameful protection Of de-
hatchery. The Vi,girson has been sure for a
long time 1t feels sure that the mass Of Rich,
snopd CITIZENS opposed to the existence OF
INK Z sscrICt in midst, and TIT Ftrttnfer Il
glad that this lie so. 1ha rirgintan does not con
tend that the abolition OF the segregated district
vii eliminate the question CT social evil OF
grcsx and oatbrcaking immortality. but The w
0fxiaa contend that 50 long az there Ia a
Isw on the statute books against this concen.
trated wiekedness that lae mast he enforced
Tie Mayor himself g Responsible for reopen.
ing the subject; he has raised for himself to
answer the question Of obeying or disobeyjug
the law OF the land, Of keeping or breaking his
oath OF ot6ce.
What viii the decision be