The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-10-05
pALMnlTO STATE CA2iIJi
N.lHHEa ..E.AtL, NUn hELA

Houses OF Vice Closed But vice s1ih
Aive-kxaggerate Eeporss Give
Wrong Impression
Charleston American.
Columbia, Selt. % SO much wild
talk has been INDUCED in on the al
legged vice" situation in Columbia
before and since the segregated dis
trict was legally abolished by the city
council, that it would perhaps be We'll
in Justice to the city, to give a con-
servative statement of conditions
here, as observed by conservative
men.
To give credence to some of tn,
arguments which were used before
council in urging that body to pass
the ordinance abolishing the dlstrlc..
one would have been led to the con-
clusion that Columbia would soon be
q little paradise on earth-someWhat
OF q heavenly oasis surrounded oy d
desert of sinful people, comprising
the rest of the world. None but those
so blinded by their earnestness that
their vision was clouded believed tnat.
Since the district has been abolished
to give credence to some, one "ouio
he led to the conclusion that Column
hia is such a den of vice and lnquity
that it is liable at any moment TO De
wiped off the face Of the earth, even
as were certain cities of which the
srriptiures tell. Neither is that true.
Conditions are bad enough without
any exaggeration, and it is serious
question in the minds of some as 70
whether they are not worse than De-
fore the adoption of the ordinance II
must be borne in mind, however, that
the population of Columbia, has large
" increased since that time; that this
increase has been sudden and that
the problem is one difficult enough OF
solution even in normal times.
House, Not Inmates, Abolished
The ahrogation of the segregated
district here was practically demand
ed by the war department, in direct
communication to city council
through Mayor Griffith and others'
and the ordinance which was adopted
seemed to meet with the approval OF
the government officials. The houses
in the restricted district were closed.
That all OF their inmates did not leave
the city is matter OF common knoWi-
edge, and two OF them were recently
arrested by the federal authorities N
the heart OF the district which was
abolished. and have been held fof
trial at the next term OF the United
states court That women OF siEma'
character are daily on the streets az
edumbia In good1y numbers is also a
suatter OF COMMON knowledge. And
that the situation presents greater Gil
6euItSes than in a district Of the kfnd
vhich was here before the ordfnans e"
vent into effect goes without sayfrc.
for now it is not question OF re-
strscaon. but Of arrest for specific
crime. AID naturally the proof is hara
to secure.
This leads back to the question OF
whether conditions have been I'm
proved by the abolition Of the dis
srics. 1t is safe to state that so far
they have not-but that they ara
possibly worse. Whether there will
be an ultimate improvement depends
snor whether or not it Will be pos
sibIe to stamp out the scattered evil.
That remains to be seen. The city
police and the military police are
both active, and the government au-
thorities are bringing every pressure
to bear-but the througs OF women
are here, and the real difficulty lies
in the difference between the officers
being convinced in their own minds
as to who these women are and wheth-
er or not they are offenders, and in
having sufficient proof upon which to
aet; for aay one must realize that it
would be real tragedy to lay such o
charge against an innocent woman,
% far as she might be concerned, fr-
Respective Of the legal aspect OF such
q mistake.
ExapgerateA ReBSftS