The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-11
THE VIRGINIAN'S FIGHT AGAINST VICE: COMMON
COUNCIL TO GIVE FINAL TOUCH

Aldermen Monday night mlugated tle
penalty recommended by its commit
tee as proper TO be imposed upon a
mem Der Of the Police Commission, s.
man Of wide municipal influence, for
s1ndiscreet conduct in visiting houses
of assignation in the city Of Rich
mond" and declared that his action
was ''pretudicial 10 the best Interests
of the Police Department and de
serving OF censure." the outstanding
fact is that the apper branch of the
CITY Council pat the stamp Of its APP
proya! upon tn enforcement Of the
Law against immoral houses IN Rich
.nond. The significance of this action
should never DC lost sight Of. 1t
snould never be obscured by othe-
details OF the boards actor. That
body minimized one penalty, it altered
smother. but the Board OF Aldermen,
brought face to face with the crisis
where II must approve or dIsapproye
Of the enforcement o. the law in
Richmond. declared unanimously That
1t not only favors the enforcement Of
the Law now, but censures the Mayor.
the Chief Of Police. the Police Com
r1.zsIoners, and members of the Police
Department for not having enforced
tine law In the past.
This is the great outstanding issue
in the night: Shall the law be en-
forced or snaIl It not? Every official
body. every Official. every official
organization, every newspaper in Rich
mond which has faced This issue. has
felt obliged to declare that the law
againet immortality and immoral re-
sorts must be enforced
within something over a year the
Richmond Vice Commission. the
Mayor of Richmond. the Council In
vestigating Committee. the press of
the city. cne Richmond Police Depart
xnent, and the Board of Aldermen of
the City Council have faced this issue.
All are committed to a policy of law
enforcement and the suppression of
y1ca wherever found.
This situation has not always exist
ed TO what cause is It due? Whence
dsd tle movement receive sts i'm
I pefasa
The movement for the enforcement
II the law In Richmond was begun by
saho Richmond virginian. and to the
correctness of Its position all these
gwen their approval and are obligated
TO give their support.
At the close Of the legislative ses-
I zion OF 1914, when flibustering tactics
employed by Senator Hart, of Roa-
noke. in the Senate OF Virginia, re-
suited In the failure OF measures as
sured OF passage to come TO vote.
which measures would have broken
up immoral resorts In Virginia, The
Richmond Virginian, of It's own initia-
tive and without support in admins
frative circles in the city. inaugurated
o campaign for the enforcement Of
the law and the suppression of vice in
Richmond. This paper called on the
Mayor Of the city to enforce the law.
At FIRST he ,urned a deaf ear to The
yirginiaus argument. but later. In a
campaign for reelection. he appointed
= Vice Commission TO investigate the
question, pledging himself TO abide BY
the commissions recommendation.
The Vice Commission. composed Of
4 the very pick Of the men and women
OF Richmond. and assisted by trained
experts in this sort Of work. made a
careful. a prolonged. and complete
4 Investigation into conditions in Rich
rnond and IN its report recommended.
rs The Virginian had insisted for
months should be done. that the segre-
d gated vice district should be closed
cat cnce'' ard all places Of vice in
the city suppressed with the utmost
d vigilance. This was the first official
& endorsement of The yirginian's posi-
V don
Mayor Ainsl!e. Immediately on re-
3 <stpt OF the commissions recon-
mendation, fulfilled his promise and
ordered rne enforcement of the law
y - once. declaring also that the former
ettitade Of liberation was at an end
- must not DO renewed This was
4