South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-02
WHY NOT PROMOTE DANCING
As RECREATION?


Tn our judgment an ordinance
might be prepared TO regulate dancing
in South Bend that would meet all
the requirements Of both Mayor kell-
er's morality committee. and those
who believe that the regulation Of
morals should be without class dis
tinction: this too. without making it
materially offensive 10 anyone.
We have contended from the start
people who do not need TO have their
dances regulated have nothing 10 fear
from dance regulation, same as the
man who has no disposition 10 COM
nit arson need not give a care how
many laws are passed TO punish fire
bugs"
On the other hand, we have con-
tended that 10 regulate some dances
and exempt others. both of a public
or a semi-pubhc nature, is 20 brand
everyone who attends the regulated
dance. either as a libertine or a bawd.
and those who attend the unregulat-
ed ones as saints and saintesses.
This, like as not. is giving to both
a reputation that they do not deserve.
and it is the thing that we would
have the council get away from, if
possibility. if d dance ordinance is to
be passed. 1t is not necessary 10
make attendance at a dance a badge
OF either slicenciOusness or sainthood.
It is not necessarily, either az them.
Place them all on an equal footing.
and be sensible in doing it, and the
rest is easy.
To begin with the terpischorean art
should be recognized, not as a sin, to
commit which indulgences are to be
granted by ncensing-in certain cases.
but as a recreation to be encour-
aged and developed for the best that
is in it, We propose an ordinance that
declares dancing a recreation and
placing it under the jurisdiction of
the city recreation director and the
recreation committee. He should be
empowered to conduct municipal
dances, should IL be deemed advisable.
and the same rules might be laid down
for him 10 follow, so far as the con-
duct of dances are concerned, as are
submitted in the present proposed or
dtAance for the regulation of public
dance halls. Then, IL any individual.
club. society. organization or corpora
tion wishes TO conduct a dance out
side private home; wishes 10 indulge
in this recreation. in any such public
or semi-public manner as calls for a
public or membership attendance, let
them go to the recreation director and
get permit. agreeing that the same
rules and regulations that are made
To apply to municipal dance halls will
be obeyed.
After this manner every dance, not
municipal dance. becomes a private
dance. The cost OF the permit should
be nominal. The recreation director,
with the aid Of the committee. and
such other aid as it might be deemed
wise 10 summon, should be empow-
cred to see TO it that the terms Of
the permit are not violated. They
should have power 20 cause arrests.
and the director 10 cancel permits,
If those conducting the dances. ne
elect TO observe the rules. A recrea-
zion director. and recreation COM
mittee, observing the operations of a
dance for the purpose Of promoting
clean, wholesome recreation. is one
thing. a dance Inspector, or dance
supervisors, even though they be
''judicious and discreet" spying upon
some dances as though crime were
anticipated, while sweetly oblivious TO
others as though they were conclaves
Of angels, in quite a different thing.
The recreation director. or recrea-
ton committee, could visit the select
dances OF even the most astute with
out giving offense, and too, they could
visit the dance halls where what seems
20 be regarded as the more common
herd teTpischoreanates. without be-
ing regarded as a limb of the law
sent thither on suspicion that every
one present had gone 10 seed in Grim
inality. Let our dance regulation be-
come part OF our program for the
advancement OF clean recreation. and
regard il as an art, rather than a sin,
and it Will do more 10 eliminate the
evil in IT, by a thousand fold. than
parraHties or vengeance.
People do not like 20 feel them
selves under suspicion. or particularly
so. II makes them resentful He who
has the name pretty soon takes 10
looking around after the game.
ARMS EMBARGO FOR MEXICO.
Tie next step in our treatment OF