Evening journal., 1916-02-14
MONDAY, FEBRUARY IA, 1916.
DOVER ANn ITs MNRlLIrY.

E1ONER Is one Of the handsomest and best towns on
- the Dolmaryia Peninsula. We 90 not believe there
is any community between the bays that has pro-
portion TO population a larger number Of good men
and women and boys and girls. We think it unfortu-
nate, therefore, that certain newspapers, including
one published in that town. are engaged just now in
preaching The doctrine that State capital is over
run with cadets grayhaired debauchees and procurers
and that the moral standards of tho poorer girls
community are far below what they ought 10 be by
reason Of the widespread system OF debauchery.
However unpleasant it is 10 have to confess it,"
the Dover ndcN. eve believe Dover's moral con
diton in some respects is than have painted
IT, We are informed good authority that for years
men have boon in the habit of accostng little girls in
Dover giving them money engaging them in converse
tion, and in other ways securing their attention for
the purpose OF getting them in alleys, stables and
other places We are informed on good
authority many of our poorer girls have in that
and other ways been started the road to ruin We
understand that of these older girls have been
used decoys to get other little girls. Not
is accused. but many. This said to have been going
on for years"
Il seems to us that If the Index has as it asserts
good authority for such serious charges It
should experience no difficulty in seeing the course
it should pursue. We have here in Wilmington an
Attorney General who formerly lived in Dover He
unquesuonably would experience pleasure in proceed
ing against such mscreants for the protection OF the
grlhood of the town. There is resident in Dover n
deputy Attorney-Genera who doubtless would bend
every effort to second ably the efforts OF his chief
Let the Dover Index file with tho Attorney General
the evidence il has, let give to him its good an
thority" Under Delaware law the debauchng OF a
young girl is serious crime and the Attorney Cen
era is the handle it, before the grand and
petit iuries.
No city or town is morally pure Nor is immortality
restricted to any class. Dover no doubt has its fair
share OF immortality in all classes The situation de-
scribed hy the Index u.s. however such an unusual
one for town Of that size and location that it demands
attention, rather than talk. If the Index will pursue
the course suggested. II will bring out how much OF
this talk of panderers procurers and debauchees is
fact and how much is fiction. II also will make il
possibly to supply the remedy needed
William J. Maxwell. years ago. was postofice in
spector in this district. He handled many important
and produced which DISTINGUISHED him in
that branch OF the public service In conversation
with him, had perhaps twenty years ago. we asked
him TO tell Of the rules which governed his
work
THE first Of my rules" he replied. "s never to pay
serious attention to who tells me things and
then is unwilling to back them up with an affidavit
My experience has taught that investigator who
replies upon gossip and who attaches much
importance 10 statements OF persons who are un-
willing TO support them by oath affirmation builds
up very unsubstantia foundation"
Tt may be that if the oath affirmation test be ap-
piled the information upon which the Index bases
its charges they will stand the strain. On the
other hand. il that information substantiated by
competent evidence. the population of the County
Workhouse will be increased for the public benefit