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


Men must, Americans must, nail their attention down
the task hand and solve the pressing problems Of
the immediate neghborhood, before they hope to fit
themselves for the larger responsibilities of wider fields
merit the favorable verdict of their postery
FL PasO has her duties to perform and they very
much Like the old familiar duties of peace times that have
often been clearly realized and careessly mpatenty
thrust aside Now of these duties going to be-
come very closely wound up with tangible material in
tersts and there is some hope that this new phase nav
induce prompt and action whereas IN the past there
such compelling motive to add itself to the purely
moral motive Of correct community conduct.
For the OCCASION The Herald purposes to leave discus
sion and employment of the moral motives to the churches
the Schools the Y H. A and the societies. and VIII lay
the greater the material motive of enlightened
self interes-he selfish motive of what is good for our
pOeketbOoks.
Secretary Bakers letter the governors quoted
with kind Of emphasis that ought to insure its widest
reading contains definite warning to FL Paso combined
with threat that is wholly justified and against whose
consequences enforced E. Paso could have Just ground
of resentment Secretary Bakers announcement NAV be
taken to this FL Paso: That FL Paso does not
make herself clean community, enforce strictly all
sOnab laws for the protection Of youth from commercial
army training shall be surrounded by community conditions
fSyorabe the conservation and bettement of character
tken IN the event of such failure FL Paso viii be black
listed by the department. troops In training here viii
be withdrawn and the FL Paso training camps abandoned
and abolished
This is the alternative that faces this cty-the aterna
tive to the prompt and earnest adoption of policy
Of vice control Is the prospect pleasing business men
Are public officials Of city, county and state prepared to
such failure would prove?
It is topic that deserves immediate and careful con-
sideraon; is problem whose prompt and correct solu
viii wait upon delay Of any Sort but be
devised and made effectual now.
The congress and the department together have al
ready taken steps that ought to be ecua to prevent
in army uniform from obtaining liquor in any Tegu
larry licensed vending place.
If FL Paso does not carry out the letter the spirit
Of these laws and regulations In good faith the ad
ninistraton would be justified applying Paso
INNS nile
sers likely to rsk the heavy penalties provided
especially since it is safe to that the law, being fed
era zv and enforceable by federal officers viii be applied
igdy than any state local law would ever be
applied
houses of prostitution, and In candesne meeting places
To what extent such places and such practices are
tolerated by the officials charged by law with their abo
1shmen perhaps members Of grand JursS are aware.
any serious effort than heretofore be made to
enforce scter regulation the impulse must from an
aroused public sentiment Law especially state and local
- r. +.1;t-- &C., ~. [rhc ~ ;c nj 80
operative Law particularly the restrictive laws against
oonmercazed vice. depends the huctuating tides Of
There are laws In abundance the books if the people
e Paso these laws enforced strictly they
enforcement laxty there viii BE- This effect is seen
merely the personal conduct Of peace officers but IN
the attitude Of courts and in the actions of urie One of
the harder tasks before courageous and conscientious
public official bent enforcing laws against commercial
lied vice, to juries that viii convict
vheming showing of evidence Of guilt of the accused In
Fl Paso ue have been known to acquit who pleaded
guilty.
Secretary Bakers declaration Of policy is clear enough
He means business and he promptly and
getcay for action appears 1t is unlikely that
81 Paso could bring to bear political official influence
Of any equal defeating the purpose of the
partmen surround the young of the army with
decent local conditions.
If as has been said 10000 men in training here are
worth $4,000 week to the city in commercial expan
sion influx of capital additions the circulating medium
and Strengthening Of credits El Paso business men are now
70 themselves the direct question whether they can
afford to sacrifice this $4,000 week for the sake of
tanning excessive number of houses Of prostitution
destine prostitutes and Illegal liquor agencies.
conditions here at present IN this connection are
unsatisfactory FL Pasoans are generally agreed The CITY
has LET the situation get away from It. Two years ago. the
of long standing (The Herald had fought for 20
ytrs under which public prostitutes mad been regularly
censed" at SO month each under the guse of fine"
which actually insured police protection, abolished
The number of known professional prostitutes been