The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-08-07
VICE-NOW AND THEN.

ton of vice in our city, and endorse
the action of Mayor Nye and Chief
Martinson of the city police depart
ment also Sheriff Langum and County
Atty. Robertson of Hennepin County.
Vice among Negroes is segregated
and we do not believe that these Of
ficials accept any income from pres
ent conditions. If there is graft it
stops with the primary grafters. The
Mayor has placed the entire inspec-
ton of Negro clubs under Detectives
Welborn and Hardin, both Negroes.
White detectives never enter Negro
clubs. We know that this discrimina-
ton is sharply drawn, and should be
because these are incorporated Negro
clubs, and it is better to have gamb-
ling controlled by honest and eff
ficient officers, than have it scattered
in alleys and private dwellings. The
Twin Cities can boast of being free of
private ap-games. This statement
is true because of the existence of
clubs. 1t is regretted, however, that
some proprietors of clubs where wom-
en- go, continue to hold to "craps," as
their main support. Women do not
see these games but they are conduct
ed in the building. Few clubs, high
or low, exist where men do not gam
bic. One man, if he is gambler, has
as much right to do so as an other,
whether in dress suits or overalls,
the game is the same. We hold no
brief for gamblers, prostitutes or
drunkards. We believe in the suppress
sion of vice, which will never be
eliminated. Neither do we tolerate
those who hazard and boiler when
they lose We stand for fairness
Men of every walk in life visit these
clubs, which are patronized according
to classification. We shall take a diff
ferent stand when Negroes, who do
not patronize clubs, will attempt to Sc
cure a social center for their race.
Not Jim Crow Y. NJ C. A., promot-
ed by reformers with itching palms,
but settlement houses, where all re-
spectacle persons may enjoy its con-
veniences. Some have been recently
started and the support given them
was nothing but talk" Now that the
Vice and Graft question is prominent
ly before the people something should
| be done. We pay no heed to those,
who elect themselves as divine and
consecrated or those who have so
instantly reformed, but we believe
that there are liberal-minded, honest
men, who tolerate the faults of the
weaker under present circumstances,
ment to make better environment for
them. During our newspaper life in
this city, we have never attempted
such movement, because every sug
gestion has brought forth an eager
approval with an application of the
solicitors job. Everywhere we go
among business men they tell us that
they meet few Negroes who are not
soliciting for charitable institutions
| But this game is being blocked. We
should have race pride enough to fl
nance our affairs. The Negroes of
| Boston recently gave sum of many
to the Boosting Fund, that is why
they are factor. We need honest
men do "do things" Enough money
has been collected here to build a
battleship and we have nothing to
show We should ask nothing of the
Civic and Commerce Assn, but better
housing conditions, and the health
and building laws will soon give us
these. The home-training of children
and the protection of the rising gen.
Grafton should be the slogan of the
race. Let the parents be always true
examples for their children. Train
your daughters to be wives and your
sons to be husbands. We will then
and always have clubs and gamblers,
buffet flats and prostitutes, but also
a greater percentage of we'll regulated
homes and respectable young men and
women. We stand for these things
and will not tolerate any persecution
of any club-men, by those who have
| selfish interests. 1t is more honorable
to speculate on the roll of the dice or
the turn of card than to propagate
reform movement under the guise
of moral uplift" when the principle
motive is to handle somebody's money
and to steal the greater portion of
it.