El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-07
ORDERS WHOLE
CITY PURIFIED
Mayors Order to Close Re
stricted District Includes
Wide Scope.

J. Zabriskie by mayor Charles Davis
I that the segregated district be closed
were followed Thursday by instruc-
tions to the police department to
clean up" the entire city. and all
{ houses Of immoral character within
I the city limits Will be raided II not
/ closed by the proprietors at once.
( Mayor Davis Thursday morning said
that he intended having the police
keep a more strict watch on the
houses in the city outside the segre-
gated district than the houses below
the "deadline" There are as many,
/ if not more. houses outside the segra-
gated district than there are in Chi
! huahuita, il is asserted, and the city
| executive said that unless they are
closed at once the inmates will be ar
rested and prosecuted
Replies to FOsdick.
After mayor Davis on Wednesday
had ordered the chief OF police to
close the segregated district he re-
ceived a telegram from Raymond 3.
Fosdick, chairman Of the ad-
Visory committee 10 the secre-
tary of war, announcing that there
will be no contonments estab-
lished by the government in commu-
mites or cities which have segre-
gated districts To this wire the
mayor replied that he had already is
sued orders to close the segregated
district in Ell Paso and also to stamp
out all vice within the limits of the
city.
Believe Army Desired II.
The first telegram sent to secre-
mayor Davis regarding the closing of
the district follows:
Referring TO the dispatches carried
in the Sunday morning papers regard
ing segregated districts in Ell Paso
Will say on behalf of myself and the
city council that the segregated dis
trict has been permitted to exist
through belief that same was desired
by army and was satisfactory to
them. Ny administration stands ready
to conform with your requirements
Please advise
To this telegram mayor Davis this
morning received the following re-
ply:
districts, Must Close.
The secretary of war has referred
to this commission your telegram of
June 5. The war department is deter
mined not to locate contonments in
neighborhoods of community main
tanning segregated districts"
The mayor this morning sent the
following wire to Mr.. Fosdick:
referring to your telegram of last
night will state that yesterday morn
ing myself and council notified our
POAANE lOLCC 70 cream lNlS CITY
especially the segregated district
This administration stands ready to
help in any way in its power"
Committee in Washington.
The commission appointed by mayor
Davis and the city council to go 10
San Antonio and Washington to con-
fer with army officials regarding the
establishment of a cantonment in FL
Paso, will reach the national capital
Thursday, after comforting with gov
eminent officials San Antonio Tha
mayor has informed the commission
Of his action in closing the district
and of the Willingness of the city ad-
ministration in cleaning UP the city
10 meet the requirements of the army.
The commission expects to confer
with army officials at Washington
and TO impress upon them that FL
Paso IS doing everything possible TO
meet their requirements.
Church Congregation Approves.
The mayor Thursday morning re-
ceived a letter from Rev. Perry J.
Rice, pastor Of the First Christian
church, stating that at Sundays serv-
ices the congregation by a rising
vote commended his willingness to
close the restricted district.
Women Are Notified.
About $50 women living in the re-
stricted district on Ninth. South Stan
ton, Tenth, San Jacinto, South Santa
Fe, Eighth and South Oregon streets,
were notified Wednesday evening by
acting police captain Will Simpson
and Stanley Good. secretary to the
chief Of police. that they must move
by Saturday and get out of FL Paso
Many OF the women tried to rent
rooms uptown, il was said. but were
told that they would be arrested as
fast as they were discovered and
would be severely dealt with About
IS of them left Ell Paso Wednesday
night, mostly for the western coast
Thursday morning scores of women
left the city. Others are preparing to
vacate.
More than 300 women are affected
by the orders to close the district. IL
was said Many of them have COM
planned to city officials that they have
not sufficient funds to leave the city
and appealed for advice as to what
steps to take, saying they do not
desire to be arrested and do not want
TO violate the new order.