Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-03-02
By Rev. Diamonds Bennett.

Ihe hfiEhne SlOe OI Clle 'heN E LigsIi Problem;' which Is per. E plexing Mayor AsEcrcft, Vice.
 Mayor McLain and the city com X missioners is touched upon by
 Rev. Edmonds Bennett, of St. Luke's rectory in d letter ad-
 dressed to The News Scimitar.
 The Rev. Bennett states that inas- much as the city has segregated these derelicts for it's own protection they havei become in an actual sense it's responsibility. :, and that it is bound to protect them as human beings.
 His letter fellows:
 Dear Scimitar: One wrong can not be cured by another. These wo,ren have become in the very fact of their segregation, the city's charge; a burden it has legitimatized, and for one contend that having said to them, You must live there and mo- where else in this city, they have beccme in very actual sense, it's responsibility. The city segregated them for it's own protection. Yes, and to our disgrace, be it said, to satisfy a civic demand.
 ''It cannot now dismiss them to mo- where and not incur another rein Of disgrace.
 ''The city has recognized their trade, and is bound to protect them as human beings. Oh, my God! They are our sisters.
 Yours, Mir. Mayor; yours, Mr. Ed tor: yours, MT. Merchant; yours. Mr. Magistrate; yours, Reverend Father in God, and mine. Men made them what they are and sent them just where they are, and they are the sisters of men, not the less but the more for that. Is the righteousness of this city to say to them get out and let it go at that? Where are they to go To the river? I con- end that if there is any righteous ness behind tho edict of eJection, they will be provided refuge, or, under the city's paternal surveillance be permitted to stay where they are until such refuge is found. To evict the.I as flotsam and jetsam can have nc, kind of moral justification.
 "There are men of standing in this city who have in cold blood given their sons money to spend in these houses. know, because I have heard them say so, I need not enter into the nauseous argument by which they have tried to justify theI selves. But l say those men were paries 10 a contract. although no legal papers passed hands, and if they are repent ing of the contract, these other par ties, to it cannot be dropped out of it as though they were never in is They were vital to it. Christ Jesus said to such woman: Go and sin no more But He treated her so that she didn't want to sin any more. Is this community to say to these chill dren of uhe lurid red. Go and sin some where else?
 ''If they will do that. suppose they must. But it is the clear duty of this city that has recognized them as part of its economy, to say 10 them when it has changed hts policy. We will provide for and help you to be good
 we are on the verge of a general missionary campaign. John Wesley used to say. It is your duty to go out to those who need you. but es- pecially to those who need you most. John Wesley redivivus! Take care of their bodies, and then you can talk to their souls. You open the evict- ing door and say, Cor Before God, and before humanity, dare you, until ycu have another open door over which is inscribed the welcominy 5 legend, Come with human hands at tendant to stay their tottering stePs2 ct him justify such procedure .wio can This is mans question: Let the men of Memphis answer it. Men who have children, sisters. mothers and wives. andy too many of whom have been sthere.' Yours faithfully.
 "EDMONDS BENNETT.
 'St. Lu'le's Rectory. February 25."