The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-09-04
THEN AND NOW.


The Master said to the sin-burdened wo-
man when her accusers (all of them mem
had skunk away: Neither do I condemn
thee. Go and sin no more" In these days
of christian civilization we say to the sin
burdened woman: ''Move, keep moving"
And when she asks 'Where? every door
is closed against me" society answers, "Get
off the earth, if need be, but keep moving"
One is bound to think of these phrases of
the problem when noting the development
in the movements in cities of Georgia and
elsewhere to abolish restricted districts in
an effort to safeguard soldiers. There is no
desire to criticise the spirit or action of the
military authorities. They mean WELL and
we are not willing to doubt the integrity of
their policy. They believe the health and
morals of the soldiers will be promoted and
protected, and so believing their action must
be commended
One could wish, though it were as easy
to be in accord with some of the civil author
tiles in going further than the demands of
the military
The latter have asked for one procedure,
the adjustment of places where women of
this kind congregate in numbers, with sub
sequent efforts, Of course, at prevention of
vice, but we do not know that they asked
the Punishment of offending women-order
to leave, with all that must mean to those
who have property and business obligations,
or those who are destitute of means to go
elsewhere.
1t is a great problem, the social evil, and
conceding its gravity one is 10th to question
the wisdom and justice of extreme means.
But, for all that, the thought will not down
Where can these women go?
Society has manifested but scant sympa-
try-save in sentimental way-for the fall
en- woman who aspires to quit the life of
sin and shame and try to walk once more
in the path of womanly purity Such ex-
pressions of sympathy as the Florence Crit
tenden Missions and the numerous "Rescue
Homes" over the land are evidences of in
dividual sympathy but the state, as to laws
and means, has been naturally 10th to offer
5 any word or act of hope to the woman who
needs it. All that the state has done in her
behalf is represented in institutions in
every instance designed and operated to
punish the woman and protect the rest OF
us than to encourage or help the woman
put her on the road to a new and better
life. We build and maintain institutions
for so many of our kind needing help ant
encouragement. Is it too much to hope tina
some day the state will have its homes o
refuge, where the wretched woman who de
sires to regain her wrecked physical health
who yearns to be chaste and live in som
measure of usefulness and happiness, vii
have opportunity to do so?
Until as a people we recognize that this
and will continue to be prime phase of tn
problem can we feel that we are measurin
up to our responsibilities?
For it is the sin of some man or men tina
seven out of ten of the women who wea
the scarlet of the fallen woman are thu
CARRIED. Why should society," making effol
through the state, grudge some way to +,
turn fallen women to moral and physic;
health and opportunity to achieve SON
measure of happiness?
II the state spends money cheerfully
safeguard the physical veal of swine ar
cattle why not like effort to make a 81
Iul woman chaste and healthy?
Some day, please God, we shall all ia
this duty in right spirit.