El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-29
CLEANUp NOT MERELY FOR CASH:
CITIZENS MUST GIVE REAL HELP

" E have the word that II FL Paso IS given moral
M cleanup, lot Of troops VIII be sent here, and the
most energetic preparations are under way to nd
the city Of bOOteggers and immoral Meetings have
been held the public realize the opportunity
hand and the greatest eagness has been evidenced to put
the thing through way satisfactory secretary OF
Newton D. Baker who is the final arbter.
Well and good but let's start night. Don't let the i'm
preston prevail that Fl PasO is turning good IN order to
make money ont Of soldiers Unfortunately already
have reputation in quarters for being
mercal than is admirable Perhaps some people reading
Of the activity manifest, smiling and saying
There goes FL Paso, the dollar chaser happy in its favor
tie pastime."
cleanup here must be a cleanup because It is right
and not Just because there's money It. Otherwise
show ourselves tolerant to until It threatens our
Pocebooks We must get nd Of 1t for the good Of the
whole community, because It IS wicked and degrading
With that thought In mind 90 to work.
REALLY, The TASK HERE IS NOT TO MAKE Ell
PASO CLEANER BUT CLEAEEST FOR COMPARE
lively Ell PASO HAS NO CONSIDERABLE VICIOUS
ELEMENT
THERE IS NO RESTRICTED DISTRICT.
THERE ARE NO DIVES, STRICTLY SPEAKING.
THERE ARE FAR MORE BOOTLEGGERS THAN CAN
BE TOLERATED, BUT FEWER IMMORAL WOMEN
THAN MOST CITIES OF Ell PASO'S SIZE.
TROOPS AT FORT BLISS HAVE LESS DISEASE
THAN MOST CAMPS.
Whoever has been informing Mr. Fosdck and the sec
rotary Of that E PasO is rampant with vice that evil
uncontrolled and that the peace authorities have
making effort to control it. is sensational falsifier
of the first order There Of it here and there
everywhere else where human beings congregate
numbers, and task is to get down the absolute
minimum for the good Of ourselves first, and of the troops
second.
To make complete cleanup, a larger police force Is
needed and thorough public support To get evidence
bOOeggeIs and houses where prostitution Is Clandestney
pracced requires police than just enough for routine
duty. The detective bureau should be doubled, least
and they should be competent dozen at least
could be used in vice squad and the sherfs office viii
have need for all the sheriff Orndor spare espe
cay look out for the bOotegges in the outskirts and
up and down the county road and IN the vicinity Of Fort
Bliss.
IT WILL NEED MORE THAN MERE PROMISES
FROM THE SHERIFF AND POLICE CHIEF TO CLEAN
UP Ell PASO AND KEEP IT CLEAN
Of the cooperation Of the public has been pledged
but cooperation must be something than pleasing
word It must mean more than acquiescence and willing
accumulate against the levy It must mean that
every resident gets track Of booegger must report
and that every resident who believes vice being prac
tCed in specific residences apartment houses TOoming
houses must report the authorities help gather evidence
and If necessary, TO a complaint. It be
embered that, with the exception known haunts of
nee police have to be very discreet IN the matter Of raids
where they want to act Unless they have definite
evidence Of violation Of law, they viii raid
without being armed with warrant, for they would lay
themselves and the city open to suit If they raded and
JAILED to find anything upon which to procure conviction
Osorery house keepers know that very well and they
prevent the police and detectives seeing enough to Jus
ty raid, IN the belief that decent people
neighborhO0d who dread to 60 into court viii keep
deadng If squeamshy to turn their backs and tell
themselves they probably Just imagining anyhow.
Let someone to a complaint against a house
certain occupants thereof and the peace officers
hen raid what seems after observation best time