Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-14
Richmond Awake to Its Duty

n BNORMAL conditions follow in the train
OF abnormal events. Richmond in
common with scores OF other American
cities, is passing through period to which
1t is strange. War has brought to it's doors
tens of thousands of soldiers who are being
trained for service. With them it has
brought other thousands, some that they
may be near relatives in the various camps
others that they may reap the profits Incl
dent to the hoodtide OF legitimate business,
and still others for reasons that are sordid
and vile. These things, combined with money
in seemingly plentiful supply and the in
creased tension and excitement under which
every ono is living, have caused dislocation
OF the old order OF things-that order which
once made Richmond model after which
other law-abding cities shaped their course
For this change Richmond is not respon-
slole any moro than are those other cities
which have undergone Il similar metamor-
phosis. 1t is largely psychological, and
minds attuned to the old order cannot be too
harshly blamed if they have failed to keep
pace with the new, in which tho race is to
tho swift. Evils formerly discountenanced
and curbed. have come upon the city, and
their boldncss and abundance have found
the municipal machinery, one adequate to
all civic needs, unprepared to cope with the
new situation. Perhaps there is no lack of
acknowledgements machinery, but, unaccus-
toned to the abnormal demands made upon
1t. its wheels have moved slowly or not at
all, and it has been swamped to its own dis
credit and that Of the city Meantime, the
Federal machinery has been put into action,
and it has pointed the way to the local au-
thorities. Spurrcd by its example and
brought to a realization OF their own ncgl-
gcnco in not taking hold sooner, they may
confidently be expected to act so swiftly
and with such decision that there will be no
further need for outside interference in
Rchmonds purely home affairs.
There never has been q question Of Rich
monds desire and earnest intention to keep
itself morally clean. Only for its failure
TO move for the maintenance OF law and order
before vice had assumed such alarming pro-
portions is it open TO public Indictment At
heart Richmond never has straycd. Its
record for war activity stands unimpcached;
it bows its head TO none in its loyalty and
patriotism they arc shown by deeds 1t
confesses its humiliation that it permitted
vice conditions TO get beyond it's control for
period. but tho world shall know that its
error has been rCctifcd, and that the fathers
and mothers of the nation may send their
boys here without fear that they will be con-
taminatcd morally or physically. In this de-
termination it may he expected that the
whole State of Virginia will join
It required long casualty lists from the
battle front to make this country realize
that it really was engaged in II serious, dead
~ for existence; it took Il raid by a
provost guard to bring Richmond face to
face with the fact that it has not kept its
house in order and had been lax in its
watchfulncss over its own people and others
lntrusted to its care. 1t is awake to its duty
now. and will perform il fully, promptly and
with vgor.