The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-12


ings ever held in the city of Pensa-
cola was held last night in the city
hall, when, before a crowd of men
and women that packed the council
chamber and the galleries to the
limit Mrs. Jennie SharpIess, of the
Worlds Purity Federation, who has
been in the city for the last week
working and lecturing in the interest
of better morals, stated that, though
she had visited every city in the
United States of any size and con-
Quoted Investigations as to their
morality, the city of Pensacola, in
proportion to its size and population,
was the "rottenest" she had ever
been in.
There are II churches in Pensa-
cola; what have the church members
been doing? What have they done
here to show for it?" exclaimed Mrs.
Sharpless,
She denounced the segregated dis
trict, and declared that if all officials
/ had done their duty, the present de-
plorable conditions would not be
chronicled.
o. J. Semmes, city recorder, asked
the permission of the floor to make
a few remarks in answer to what she
! had said
Semmes Reply.
Mrs. Sharpless granted him the
use Of the floor, and Mr.. Semmes
stated at some length that he had
always done his duty as a city off
Cial and rs a gentleman, and that he
would challenge anybody, anywhere,
70 prove that he had not done so. Mr.
/ Semmes stated that he had closed up
every assirnation house in the city
and given the inmates fines and SEN
fences, and that the minute he was
advised where an assirnation house
was operating, he would Immediately
have the place raided and the in
mates arrested. Mr.. Semmes' re-
marks were received with applause.
| Mrs. Sharpless than read the street
| addresses of alleged designation
| houses she declared were today OpeT-
ating, and in several cases the al
| legged name of the party who operated
/ the house. Mrs. Sharpless said that
/ she was at a loss to know why it was
] that the city officials, who had been
living here all their lives, were not
able to locate these places. while she,
a stranger, in a few days time up
rooted a half dozen or so.
Prominent People Involved.
! Mrs. Sharpless gave the names Of
| several prominent people here who,
she declared, owned houses in the
segregated district and who collected
''fat" rent from them. Mrs. Sharpless
| even gave the alleged amount of rent
paid them.
Clean Up Pensacola.
pensacola must be cleaned up"
! said Mrs. Sharpless. 'and unless the
! city and county officials clean it up
in a weeks time the state govern
ment will take a hand in this affair
| and somebody viii be out of a job"
/ The petition given below was cir
culated around the audience and re-
ceived 144 signatures. The petition
will be further circulated and if the
| cleanup is not effected in one week,
! ernor Cats for action.
Then look out" said Mrs. Sharp
less.
The petition follows:
The Petition.
! To Honorable Sidney J. Cats, gov
/ ernor of the state of Florida, and to
the county solicitor. sheriff. and other
officials of Escambia county, Florida,
| charged with the administration and
enforcement of the laws:
We, the undersigned citizens of
/ Pensacola and Escambia county,
Florida, would most respectfully Pc
/ tition you that steps be taken at once