The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-09
WOULD WHIP
PATRONS OF
DANCE HALLS
Poticewoman Says She Was
Appointed to Chaperone
Thousands of Girls.

PATERSON, N j., Jan. S,-Declar-
ing that she would like to use a horse
whip on some Of the men who iie-
Quent the dance halls, Mrs. Grace
Headiiln, the newly appointed police
woman here, made some very yehem-
ent statements concerning certain
men and their purposes in attending
these dances. This phase of a trolo-
lesome question is not new to social
workers, and Paterson has no monco-
oily Of the type about which Mr.. Head
ifin speaks so forcibly. Indeed, they
are numerous in every city.
II was appointed" said Mrs. Head
ifin, ito be the chaperon for some IT,
600 or more girls employed in the silk
mills, sixty-Ave per cent Of whom do
not live at home, nor have they nesr
friends or relatives to see that they
are not led into company which may
mean injury, II, not ruin. They are
employed at very monotonous work
for ten hours each day. Paterson has
not yet adopted the eight hour sys-
TEN, though the workers have asked
for 1t many tines Though they handle
beautiful goods and weave cloth which
taxes the ingenuity Of artists to pro-
duce, nevertheless, 1t Is monotonuls,
And what makes 1t even worse these
girls come In numerous instances,
from races somewhat excitable, or
with what may be termed volatile tenn
peraments. The music Of the dance
and the ryhthm Of movement are what
they want to supply diversion after
their ten hours Of toll.
Heretofore the dance halls have
been run in the same buildings and
sometimes in the same rooms as sa-
looms. Between the dances, beer,
whiskey and other drinks flowed free
ly. The girls, some Of them no more
than 16 years old, and none more than
rs, were given all they would drink.
The mixture was bad for them. In
truth, a large number became drunk,
sometimes so they had to be carried
home. II they had always been taken
home the results would not have been
SO serious. 1t is my purpose to stop
all this and am frank to say that in
a great degree l have already done
so. . -
1.-THE pressure brought to bear upon
the board OF aldermen induced them
to. pass an ordinance separating the
dance halls and the saloons. They are
now obliged to supply plenty of ice
water, and, instead of the girls want
ing to drink beer and strong liquors
as was said by the directors, they stay
in the halls and drink water. What
is better, the young men stay and
drink ice water, too. The influence
upon both of them is good. No one
can deny that. And this, perhaps, Is
the real interest in my story, the ac-
tual benefit which these young people
derive from the conditions existing
now as compared With those which
existed before.
1.-THE economic value Of this situa-
ton cannot be overestimated. They
must leave the halls at 1880 o'clock
in the evening. They go to their
homes and rise in the morning clear
headed and ready for their work. They
suffer fewer accidents. They do bet
ter and more work. The mill owner
benefits immeasurably from the
change, while the fact that less money
is expended for drink leaves more for
useful articles and makes 1t mat
ter Of moment to the store keepers
OF the city,"