South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-20


That Is as far as We read. for the
purpose OF this comment. il is as far
as we had 10 read. save 10 notice
farther down in the story that the
dive has been under police surveil-
lance for some time. whatever that
means. The whole affair. however,
does not appear TO be very much in
Keeping with what the administration
has been holding out to the public,
quite to the satisfaction OF its politico-
citizen cOnsticuency,-alW anxious
for the decentralization of having
helped perform wonders in cleaning
up the town"
Despite assurances 10 the contrary.
we too. had been taking the admins
tration at its word, these many
months unwilling TO complain
through fear of being mistaken, and
not wanting TO undergo the chagrin
of being labeled mag"
There is no such thing as legitimate
criticism OF the "Holier-Than-T hous'
az the city hall. you know.
All comment that lacks approval of
the administration doings. and even.
sometimes. silence. is put down over
! there as knocking" and an effort to
/ put the administration i'm bad"
That the King can do no wrong"
1 was never more superstitiously be-
lieved in the throne rooms of Europe,
selves, among the officials in the Va
! rious departments Of South Bends
municipal building
To disagree with them. no difference
how honestly. nor how logically, is to
I them quite as criminal as it is to the
more liberal element whom they have
/ offended. should you dare to step out
side the city hall and venture "a good
word for its occupants.
1t is an awful predicament for a
: newspaper TO be in. tt keeps you be-
tween the devil and the deep sea-
all the while. with strange difficulties
staring you in the face when YOU at
tempt 10 distinguish which is which.
We are of no disposition To say
that the Keller administration has
been a total failure with respect 10
Keeping his promises anent the vice
question. but since this stabbing af-
fair taking place in dive which the
police have had under surveillance
--implyins at least a knowledge of its
existence.-we are naturally led To
wonder how much of the mayors sue
cess has been psychological. and how
much real?
In other words. is the moral condi-
&tion Of South Bend materially above
that Of year ago, or. Is our belief I'm
il somewhat condition of the mind
born OF semi-hyPnotie suggestion ema-
hating from the city hal and reiterated
from henchman and pulpit? There
s legitimate purpose in this question.
M there is a dive at 2O5 y Walnut St,
under police surveillance. yet low
enough TO precipitate murderous
brawls. perhaps there are others in
pur midst. If there are, is IL because
the department of safety fails to meas
re up 10 the situation, or is it con-
ition that il Is impossible To measure
ip TO? There are those who CON
end that the vice of prostitution can
hot be suppressed after the manner
outlined by the present administra-
ion. and claimed TO be working. and
hat segregation is the remedy for
he evil We regard Mayor Keller's
norts as an experiment, and if it
ucceeds. all very well. but If IL fails
= is failing. then we ought TO know it
nd know the reasons.
section Of the city set aside as "A hell
which fallen woman may ply her
rade. virtually legaHzing It, is not
pleasant TO contemplate, but it is
carcely less pleasant than go have her
perating here. there and everywhere
here police surveillance" does not
nsSver the question. 10 does not solve
he problem. at least until the admin
tration is ready TO admit its failure
eradication. and that surveillance
ystem Is being employed us au al
ernative.
We need 10 be honest evith each
.ther in dealing with this vice ques-
on. There are lot OF boys and Girls
oming into manhood and woman
900 IN kcOEln LFltA anu We are an
bore OF less interested i'm their future
raedom from temptation and inn
horality. We viii presume ut least
: pr the sake OF fairness. that the adj
Illustration is doing its level best We
hereby object 20 bein- misled into
resuming success which perhaps.
adging from this recent Development
oes not exist. The good people who
ot behind the citizens party and
posted its candidates into office. did
because they were lookIng for re-
bits that they feared they might not
from the opposition. and. We an
cipate that it is results hat they
ant rather than mere assertions.
There is q vast difference between
ping things and merely building Up
outward appearance for political
sect We take H. and we believe