Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-06-21

Il
Efforts
| I'm such words did the mass meeting call
ed by the women of the City Federation of
Church Societies and City Federation of
Women's Clubs. held at the Federal build
ing last night, call upon the officers of
Brownsville and Cameron county to en-
force the laws against restricted districts
and other forms of vice existing in
Brownsville.
The resolution was offered by DR.. $. X.
lIallam. after addresses by Robert r.
Hatch, field secretary of the Army y. NJ.
G. A., for the past wear a resident Of
Brownsville. by DIR. IIallam, =. q. Tucker.
and several ladies of the audience. Upon
the suggestion Of Miss Anna Kelly. vice
president of the City Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs. those present signed the reso-
luton.
| The meeting did not flav the officers for
any neglect Of duty. Rather il seemed to
realize certain lack Of cooperation on
the part of citizens of Brownsville and tho
county. n represented in the grand and
where '.ack Of backbone j. always plainly
evident when II comes "a furnishing infor-
nation against violators of the law" ;,
&C. Tucker, a former grand jury foreman,
declared that he had known of many per-
sons who had Stoutly made charges of vlo-
llations of the law in street conversation.
vet who Swore in tho grand jury room that
their information was hearsay.
The meeting wa, attended by about fif
lty women. large representation Of the
church and club societies Of the cltv. and
by twelve men. Three officers, City Com
missioner Enrique Garcia. City Attorney
Amos Rich and Chief Deputy Sheriff Hugh
F.. Barnes. were present at the meetin.
DR.. :. X. IIallam. declaring himself n
personal friend of Sheriff ". I. Nann's
took exception 10 an interview with the
sheriff in The Herald yesterday afternoon
in which the sheriff was quoted ~ saving
that he would enforce the laws against
vice ii the people wanted them enforced.
ala, there been any repeal by the leg
li~lature of the state OF Texas Of any law
against any Of the prevailing forms OF
vice." asked Dr. IIallam.
"If any officer Of the county Of Gamer
on wants to enforce these laws he has the
right to call upon every man and every
woman in Brownsville or in Cameron coun-
lty to help him."
The charge bv w. - Blackshear that
conditions might be greatly changed Il the
Officers avoided the selection of proies-
sional Jurors and hailiffs. brought an eX-
iplanation bv Mr.. Barnes Of the sheriff
department that the sheriff had no cho-
ice in the selection Of iuries. a. they were
Invariably selected by jury commissioners
named at the close of court terms, except
tn eases where special iurics were called
for bv the court City Attorney Amos
Rich supported Mr.. Barnes explanation,
and added that in hiS experience m Gam
eron county he had never found anywhere
any more intelligent Jurors than were sum
lmoned ID serve on special Juries
| $. G.. Tucker. in the absence of Mayor
A. Albert Browne. who could not bc pres
ent, was chairman Of the meeting, ana ~
first introduced Mr.. Hatch Of the !. VI.
IC. 4.
| Mr.. Hatch. after expressing hIlnSell IN
lplca~cd to know that the people Of Browns
willie have joined together IN the hope "l
lbcttcring moral conditions in the city, said
( that the condition exists not alone ~ tins
city. but that il may be found IN hundreds
of other cities IN the country. lie sand ne
takes into consideration the fact that
Brownsville Is a border city, cIty oi
mixed tongues. mixed beliefs and different
standards Of morals.
| lie said that IN his experience he had
never seen Il city undertake crusade
against vice under such favorable condi-
tions a. now exist in Brownsville, with the
officers seemingly willing and>ready to co
operate.
Mr.. Hatch dwelt particularly upon the
determination Of the war department that
'garri.on4 shall be surrounded only by the
most moral conditions, and cited the APP
,pointment Of a committee composed OF
some of the most famous social workers