El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-28

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dsorderly places outside of small restricted The
tendency toward improvement and the number of pub
lie prostitutes not increasing anything like fast
the population began to look if the traffic might
eventually regulate itself in measure and any
it was not Haunting itself as in the past.
One good piece of work accomplished when the red
light district in the heart of the city cleared out Ar
rangements made at the time to transfer the traffic
generally regarded as temporary subject to future
orcement Of existing laws as opportunity offered There
general disposition to approach the problem without
fanatsm and to attempt to handle with practical
designed for permanent beterment while fully regard
ing the necessity of not departing too widely from policy
likely to be sanctioned by public opinion The Herald is
not here ctsing the officials concerned in those changes
nor is 1t disposed at this time to enter upon general
discussion Of the broader problem The question Of the
moment IS the finding of practical course of action for
immediate adoption Criticisms by ardent reformers the
score of Of Inconsistency beside
the point One step at time is enough, provided
hold every bit of ground gained.
This we have not done We have slipped backward
slipped badly The number Of recognized and candestne
prostitutes FL Paso has largely increased and regulation
is what should be- The police have lately active
and have made many raids and many arrests The police
mas Imposed numerous Iines Inc ponce cneI mas an
nounced that he intends to clean up notorious places
All this is good; the question is Are doing enough?
The community hold itself responsible and it is
less TO try to shift that responsibility to officials
The great change at the time FL Paso became the
concentration point for large Amy At time
5000 troops CHARTERED in this vicinity 1t was OBJ
served that of doubtful reputation hocked into FL
Paso at that time and many places of suspicious pur
pose opened up ourshng business sprang up of
proceedings came to naught.
Secretary Bakers statement above quoted goes very
much beyond any statement OF army policy heretofore
nounced, or any army practice hitherto enforced.
The secretary Of war plainly announces that the United
States government intends to look after the morals of its
young men taken into the fighting forces
Heretofore the army has not concerned itself with the
morals Of soldiers in connection with vicious ndugences
outside the limits Of military reservations but only with
their efficiency units in the ranks The army has ap
piled two only: first prophyactc treatment of
exposed to venerea disease second stoppage Of pay
Of with venereal disease during the tine of their dis
ability Men who have exposed themselves to infection
required to present themselves TO the surgeon at
for prophylactic treatment There disciplinary
provided except stated.
For many years the United States army constantly
higher proportion of its disabled by venerea dis
than any other army the world It is only recently
that the has been markedly reduced Readers desiring
pursue this topic further both in relation the army
problem and in its relation to the civil community and
means Of regulation, recommended to read pages 32
to 331 of elements of Military Hygiene" by Maj NJ
Mfn Co, Boston The whole book which is the latest
and best general treatise personal and public hygiene
worth reading and worth owning and should be carefully
studied By every boy and man, by mothers and fathers
and by every school teacher of mature years. for their
good and for the good of the community and the human
It is plain spoken stuff necessary for all to know
but especially essential for all who expect to in the
military forces or to be charged in any way with meeting
problems Of public and group health To growing boys
and young men the information this book impars is in
dspensable while municipal officials will find in it valuable
hints for improving public health and sanitation.
FL Paso bears high responsibility for the suitable recep
ton OF the new citizen army This city will under favor
able conditions be for years important concentration
camp mobilization camp for national guards seective
draft men, station Of large detachments of the regular
army, and transfer point for army units and recruits
moving the continent Secretary Bakers message
may fifty be read by FL Pasoans as it were directed
especially to them and at them We cannot escape the re-
sponsbty thus laid upon The only question is What
going to do about It?
Millions of young be taken from their usual
occupations and home surroundings TO be trained for mill
ary service FL Paso viii receive large share of tbe,
These are to prepare themselves to risk their lives
in the nations defence.
this?
It means little to wave flags and make impassoned
speeches. while suffering focus of pestlence to remain
among for the purpose of running the lives of otbe for
the money there is in it.
Looked at in this way, patriotism becomes something
very real very near very vital very insisteut in it
demands upon all