The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1918-05-16
Official Journal Parish OF Natch'tooneS
Parish School Board
I" CITY ofrNatchitochs
To the Editor of the Enterprise.

When'I wrote the letter in re
gard to the existence of prostltu
ton and gambling in this town
which was published in your pape
week before last, | knew of course
that it would provoke hostile crltl
cism from persons who differed
from me.
And while l shall not waste tim
in noticing irresponsible scrfbblers
who are so ashamed of themselves
or so uncertain of their standing il
the community, that they needs
must hide their identify behind I'll
ticious names, shall trespass up
on your space to reply to the com
munication in the last issue of thu
Times from Mr.. John H. Keyser
lido this because I know that Mr.
Keyseris respectable citizen, who
though one may differ from him
is manly enough to sign his name
to what he writes.
Mr.. Keyser quotes my statement
that Natchitoches is one of the few
towns in the state which enjoys the
distinction of giving to prostitution
and gambling ''the quasi endorse
ment of legal federation.
And he says he does not know
how this was meant to be interpre-
ted.
1t was not meant to b. interpre-
ted. It does not require any inter-
probation. To any one who under
stands plain English it interprets
itself. And-what is more, it is ex.
actly and literally true, notwithstan
ding that Mr.. Keyser questions its
accuracy.
He says that the Commission
Council on November 26, 1917, pass
ed an ordinance "abollshing the re
strictedand licensed district ofp ros
titution," and as evidence of the
fact that the spirit and letter of the
ordinance are being carried out, he
refers to an alleged statement by a
representative of the federal gov
eminent, who made an inspection
of the district Ia little more than a
month ago) that he found condi-
tions here among the best in the
country"
Let US discuss this ordinance a
moment.
Sometime in the early part of No
vember 1917. the Lesche Club in o.
pen meeting, unanimously adopted
a resolution requesting me to call
together some fifteen or twenty ma
med gentleman, to inaugurate 8
movement to eliminate prostitution
in the town. While ] did not know
anything about the purpose of the
I. Sc ladies until / received copy Of
the resolution, i could give no good
reason for declining to act, and j
called the gentlemen together. A
sub committee was appointed to pre-
pare an ordinance on the subject,
and a copy of the ordinance which
the people of Shreveport, at a ref.
erendum election adopted, and the
validity ofwhicht the Supreme Cour,
has recently fully sustained, was Sc
cured and presented to the Commits
sion Council at one of its regular
meetings.
This ordinance said nothing about
any restricted district. It's purpose
was not to abolish the restricted
district but to abolish and prohi-
bit, under adequate penalties,
PROSTITUTION.
The Council postponed action on
the ordinance and at a subsequent
meeting adopted the following in
its stead.
''Be it ordained etc. q
That whereas on the - day of 19-, as
per ordinance of that date the City Coun
cilof Natchitoches, created and set aside
restricted district of prostitution, same
being No. As of City Digest.
Sec. /. Be it therefore ordained that Sc
id ordinance as above named be, and is
hereby repealed and set aside, and Dis
trict as created be annulled, and be no
longer allowed, recognized or licensed,
nor shall same be longer permitted IN
the City limits.
q BE 1t further ordained that all ordinan
ces in conflict herewith be and the same
are hereby also repealed. !"
If the matter were not SO grave
a. one, the action Of the Gouneil.
would constitute an amusing joke
on the committee of citizens and
those whose sentiments they repre-
scented.
49,