Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-19
u. S. VICE SQUAD HERE
TO CLEAN UP" ATLANTA
War Department Plans to DID,
pIiCate in This City Per-
Torrance in Columbia

a comprehensive anti-vice campaign.
a general cleanup" in fact. has been
inaugurated in Atlanta by a corps Of
government secret service men sent out
by the war department to carry out the
carefully arranged plan to render every
camp and cantonment city morally clean,
at least during the period of training
OF the new army.
The secret service operatives come
direct from Columbia, S. c., where a
cleanup campaign has just been con-
cluded with eminently satisfactory re-
suits. The exact number of men en-
ployed in the anti-vice crusade is not
announced. although II is stated
by an authority in close touch
with the situation that the squad is am
pie I'm proportions TO cope with condi-
tons as they may be found in Atlanta.
While the directing heads of the cam
paign are Withholding their names from
publication. IL is announced that there
will be complete cooperation between
the secert service operatives, the local
federal officials, the county authorities
and the city police department.
WAR DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE.
The war department is taking direct
charge Of the situation in Atlanta and
sending special representatives to con-
duct the campaign for the reason that
the city police authorities are engaged
with so many matters, which naturally
come within their Jurisdiction that it
is practically impossible for them to
devote the intensive attention necessary
for a complete cleanup" of the city.
In Columbia the results of the cam
paign were far reaching and the secret
service men were able TO effectually
eliminate vice conditions which menaced
fthe moral welfare or the young men
called TO their country's colors and I'M
dergoing training at the big cantonment
near that city.
A large hotel in Columbia was involv-
ed in an expose developed by the gov
eminent representatives and a convic-
ton was secured on the first case made
against the management of that hostel
~. Similar charges were successfully
prosecuted against a number of hotels.
apartment house managers and other es-
adjustments of this character and when
the 'vice-squad' left Columbia, it is said
that the city was thoroughly relieved
of its undesirable residents.
The hearty cooperation of the city
council is to be sought by the govern
ment representatives, and there will be
a request for the passage of the most
stringent ordinances aimed at the vice
conditions in Atlanta.
WILL ASK NEW ORDINANCES.
Ii is understood that council is to be
asked to pass an ordinance placing the
burden of proof on hotel proprietor in
cases where direct evidence is secured
by the secret service men and notice
given the establishment in question as
TO the improperly of guests.
Such an ordinance was. passed in Co
lumbia and. it is said, aided materially
in the successful prosecution of the
antivice campaign.
That the cleanup squad" will start
to work at the top and proceed on down
through to the bottom of the list is in
Dictated by the emphatic statements
made by the directing heads of the cam
paign. II is declared that the usual
process of starting at the bottom and
working up will be reversed in this in
stance.
The probe will be commenced imIne-
diately; there will be no hullabaloo and
no theatrical effects, the authorities as
sert; but when the cam9S IN has been
completed, as ii is hoped ID be within
sixty days. Atlanta, " il claimed. will
wear the robe OF Spotless Town as far
as morality is concerned, at least