South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-22
THE "MEDDLESOME MATTIES'
AND THE DANCE ORDINANCE.


AND THE DANCE ORDINANCE.
CandidIy. in our judgment Council
man Hagerty was incorrect in deln-
eating the character Of the Keller ad-
minisffation OF city affairs, as wholly
meddlesome as he did in discussing
the proposed dance regulation ordin-
ance before the committee OF the
whole. Tuesday night The admins
tration has not been even in the main
meddlesOme save 20 the extent that
enforcement. or attempted enforce
ment Of the law. has served 10 NEEDLE
with the violators Of the law. and that
is what Mayor Keller was elected to
do. and what every mayor has sworn
TO do since the city's existence. Failure
10 keep an oath is akin to perjury re-
gardless of campaign promises, but in
this case the campaign promises were
an introduction 20 the oath. 1t is not
that the administration has been un-
duly meddlesome under such circum-
stances but that due To the NEEDLE
some Matties" that are always tugging
at it, i'm an effort to secure an official
Endorsement OF their superior virtues,
1t will. if it listens too attentively be-
come unduIy meddIesome.
The proposed dance ordinance is
distinctly TO the point. and, not so
much because it is a dance ordinance.
as because OF the nature Of it. and es-
pecially with regard TO the exemptions.
Exactly why O morality committee.
such as appointed by Mayor Keller
should see at TO exempt club dances.
society dances, and other private
dances of the select quality. from the
provisions of such an ordinance, does
not 10 Us. appear exactly plain, save
perhaps, that they may wish TO avoid
annoyance for their own set. IL is the
exemption rather than the other pro-
visions that approach the danger
point 1t is what makes the 0rdln-
ance meddlesOme-the meddling of
clique with the affairs of others. per-
haps TO an extent too a public affair,
but a meddling that exempts the
meddlers from their own NEEDLE
someness.
plenty of excuse that is well-nigh rea-
son. The righteous should not fear
for themselves the legal restrictions
that they would .ahrow about the
wicked, and If worse Zones To worse,
We half Opine that enough might be
told of the maneuvers OF these self
righteous who are lighting TO have
themselves exempted from the provi-
sions of the law. 10 keep the divorce
courts busy for several moons. This
is not speaking with particular refer
ence To the committee, or any mem
Gsr OF the committee, but of the in
fuences that are urging the commit
Tee on; meaning by influences" the
peoF:e and the friends and associates
OF the people, that are urging their
action, and whom the committee SEEM
ingly lack the spine 10 bring under the
restrictions they are recommending.
IT is no farther from the various
dance halls i'm South Bend To some of
the more or less notorious rooming
hotels, when a public dance is on, than
when it is private dance, and the
more
devilish when "hoofed." than when
made in a taxi And il is quite as
easy for couples 10 slip out between
dances in one case as in the other.
The right kind OF "a fight TO make with
respect 10 this dance ordinance is for
equality under its provisions. making
IL applicable TO all dances and classes.
and holding those provisions down as
20 all 10 exactly what the smart set"
which in the present form of the ord -
nance is exempted would be willing
20 accept for themselves.
The objection is to one standard of
dancing morals when it is the dance
OF a clique, and a different standard
when the doors are open to the public.
one standard for the ilk-stockings''
supported by diamond garters," and
another standard for the cotton
socks" that are held 10y mere rubber
bands