Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-05

without dissenting voice an aud.
fence that had occupied every seat in
the Opera House and had occupied all
available standing room as we'll voted
TO indorse, get behind and back the
plan Of businessmen OF Honolulu,
members OF the anti-vice committees
and especially of the committee from
the Chamber of Commerce to secure
the passage by the legislature OF an
abatement by injunction law as an ef-
fectual check to coInmercialized vice
in Honolulu. The motion was made
by +. J. Lowrey and was seconded
by half a dozen or more men in the
great audience that had listened in
tently to the arguments and delinea-
ton or facts presented during the Sun
day evening meeting.
The resolution adopted last night
came as an answer to the pertinent
question repeatedly presented by the
next TO last speaker OF the evening,
~ Wallace r. Harrington, who had spok.
en- from the standpoint Of the average
man OF the community" His question
had been a direct one and the reply
was a direct answer In words that
can be strengthened only by actions
OF those who gave expression to the
resolution when committee hearings
come -:.a ,as
Meeting Marks Awakening
Perhaps the most remarkable fea.
ture OF the Sunday night mass meet
ing was the fact that an audience of
men and women, Of thinking men and
women deeply interested in the bet
tering Of moral and physical condi.
lions and not mere morbid curiosity
seekers or '1ong-haired cranks,' which
filled the Opera House to overflow.
ing could be brought together to listen
TO discussion Of a topic that was so
recently tabu. Ten years ago, five
years ago such gathering would have
been impossible anywhere in the
United States, but Sunday night il
was taken as a matter OF course. Il
marked the awakening of public SEN
timent II marked the new era when
prudery has been pushed aside by the
necessity Of maling clear the dire re.
suits that must inevitably follow sin.
Law 10 Need Of Today
II was made clear at the meeting
that there is. and can be no greater
weapon for use at the present time In
the battle against commercialized
vice and the growth of the social eyil
than an abatement by injunction law.
u may be that In time, when youth
has been properly educated to the
danger arising from social vice, the
almost invariable punishment that
must follow indulgence in IL, such
a law will not be necessary, but pres
ent needs were plainly set forth. I'm.
doubtedly parents went home deter
mined that their boys should not
come to manhood in ignorance OF the
dangers that awaited them, their
wives-to-be and their children unborn.
But they were equally convinced that
until years of education have passed
the abatement by injunction is essen.
tial to check vice and rnitigate'present
day dangers.
Segregation Has Failed
After Judge Sanford b. Dole had
called the meeting to order former
Governor w. F. Frear spoke of the
abatement by Injunction law as
remedy for present day vice condi.
tions. He told OF the two methods OF
control and attempts to prevent, OF
the former belief that segregation was
the answer, that I'M all such plans IL
was the woman on whom the burden
had fallen, Of the breakdown of the
theory that segregation checked vice,
prevented the spread of disease or
was In any way solution of the prob
lem and OF how the abatement by in
junction law was the hcw remedy the
efficacy of which was being daily
proved. BY IL those who lived direct.
ly or indirectly from the shame OF
womanhood were reached and not the
unfortunate women alone.
Next DR.. W. c. Hobby told OF the
medical aspect OF the vice situation.
He said at the outset that his was an
unpleasant task TO speak on such
subject but he went into 1t brayely
and without hesitation or delay.
Physician Starties Hearers
Dr. Hobby gave startling figures |
He showed that segregation meant
only registration placing Of prostitutes
TO an extent in definite locations and
a medical examination which was
farce and was meaningless. That an
examination and certificate today
meant nothing tomorrow, that only !
about one woman In six or seven was
segregated, that the police knew /
nothing OF the rest and of the per.
centage OF prevalence of social dis.
eases ameng the segregated women. !
Perhaps most startling were the fig !
ures he gave as to percentage OF dis
eased men in the United States, the /,
percentage of major operations arising !
from disease innoeently acquired and
the touching picture Of the army Of
the blind that is brought into the
world to suffer. His was a forcible ar
gument and one delivered plainly.
bluntly, clearly, with equal forcible-''
ness.
Medical Inspection Defended
Following DR., Hobby, DR.. F. II. !
Schurmann spoke in favor of medical
supervision and for control of vice. He
explained at the outset that he was not
defending vice but was speaking from !
a. - L.