El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-04
j. 5. SAYS VICE
GROWING HERE
County Officials Admit the
Truth of Washington Re
ports; Blame Lax Laws.

= eAUA4 VI " Sl~@-@@@t > 49, -
ports; Blame Lax Laws.
had a meeting at the First National
bank regarding conditions IN II
Some have the view that Mai
Johnson is antagonistic 70 Fl Paso-
don't believe it believe Maj.
johnson wanted to be fair
He told us the government was
receiving reports from otner cues ides
and that FL PasO was making less
! progress in cleaning up than any
other city where soldiers are sta
| toned.
Orders Rejection of Tenants.
q never rented a place for the OPP
4 Grafton of a saloon, and never
! knowingly rented a place which was
/ to be used for immoral purposes
| However houses are constantly
| leased by those apparently respect
able, and the lease transferred or the
place sublet to prostitutes 1 recently
] learned of one Of my houses being
used for immoral purposes, and IN
structed Robert Holiday TO have the
| tenants elected Immediately at any
cost Shall We let blackmailers ana
prostitutes run this town? say no.
I'VE should not criticise Maj. john
son. He gave the facts as he got
them He told us that we'd never get
rid of the prostitutes in e. Paso until
the sheriff's office and police depart
ments are reorganized. and men are
put in office who viii enforce the
law.
7 asked him what we could do, and
he said require the judge Of the cor
| poration court. who is giving light
fines, TO give these women the limit"
Law Allows Taking Fines.
This brought Ben F. jenkins, judge
OF the corporation court 10 ms Ie et
with the assertion that any man VINO
reported that to Maj. Johnson was
liar. I even fine these women. when
II know they are guilty, more than
the limit" said the judge I some
! times stretch nv conscience to fine
woman when I know her to De e., a
] 'vaE' I fine them often, TO noid
them in Jail for treatment, when
learn they are diseased.
I'VE can't give them Jail sentences
IL they wish 10 pay their fines, we
have to assess fines in cash and II
they want to pay or give a bono tor
appeal, We have to permit II mat
is the law in Texas. One negress. a
prostitute. is now out under $500
worth OF bonds"
SAYS Laws are Anticipated.
County attorney II. H Fryer said
the fault was largely with the laws OF
Texas. The laws are old" said he.
"adonted 80 years or more ago. They
should be revised To convict a pros
titute, we must produce evidence TO
rrove that she continually leads an
unlawful life and this is almost in
possible to prove The only way 70
handle them is 10 20 after them in a
rough neck manner and say 7 am go
inE to get you and then get them
by continual arrests We get juries
dsv after day that won't convict and
recently If justice Desver hadn't
Threatened 70 lock IN a Jury over
nfglt. ther were ready 70 free 4 no.
torious woman because We hadn't
| nroduce7 enough evidence 'beTond Z
| reasonable doubt TO convict her
/ P7ther than be locked NJ. the jury
agreed 70 fine the woman
Calls for Citizens support
| When Migrants can telephone 10
their lawyers and these lawyers can
telephone to the leading men Of FL
J Paso TO come down and go on thell
! bonds, what can you expect2 II you
want The law enforced. you must help
Serve on the juries, give Us evidence
! when YOU have il, refuse 10 90 or
the bond of men and women engag geo
in crime and graft; give the officer.
your active, genuine support and
wen clean up this city and run these
grafters out.
7 also want to say that you cant
] expect police to do effective worE
\ against prostitutes when these police.
men call the women by their first
names.
!, give ne a company OF your home
4 guard and I'll clean up the town, II
q they'll follow my directions"
4 "Give me ten men willing to work,
b interjected sheriff Orndorff. and II
II clean up the town II they'll stick witt
\ me and the men Of e Paso VIII stant
Z says Mrs. DeGroff Is Right.
Z The men should stand with you
Il said A P Coles. That article b.
4 Mrs. DeGroff in The Herald Friday
\ was one Of the best things I have
Y ever read. The men Of E. Paso mus
. stand Up for law enforcement"
4 As it vas getting late, it wa:
\ moved that the meeting adjourn IN
4 ! I'll Tuesday evening, when all the citi-
zens Of the city interested in q cleaner
\ FL Paso, be asked to attend
I Lets form a vigilance society a:
/ we did when we cleaned out gambling
\ and clean up FL Paso right" SAID
Z julius Krakauer.
Y Coles Tells of His Visits.
\ In making his report Of his trip q
7 Washington. Mr.. Coles told OF tbs
4 cordial reception he received in som'
f Instances and the rather cool recep'
Z ton at other times, but said he Eel
/ encourage that FL Paso would ge
. more troops. He felt, however, tina
II
, wished more troops and said that wa.
I the one objection he heard against 2
/. Paso. A high official in the war de
nartment, he said. had told him d;
Y woman had been seen dancing at th'
\ FL Paso Country club with only on'
\ / slim upon her body. They havi
\ heard so many reports about FL Pas
/ that they are ready to credit almos
Il ANYTHING" he said. Agents Of Mr.
! Fosdick are making reports dali,
l from every city where there arr
I troops. Mai. Johnson promised me L
7 ! send US cOries Of future reports re
I / ceived from El Paso. believe we car
/ I clean up and that we will"
Then were read copies Of letter.
from Mai johnson to o. c Coles ant
[ to Sen. Claude Hudspeth- The Huds
[ peth letter was written before Christ
mas when the senator and mayo
Davis were in Washington, but tn
first inkling the chamber Of com
|, nerce or the public received of it VA
when q COPY of the letter was en-
closed by Mai. Johnson TO Mr.. Coles
/ The two letters follow:
johnson Makes Specific Suggestions
washington. D. c. Feb. %, 1915
go G Coles. president Chamber Of Com
merce. FL Paso.
Dear Mr.. Coles;
Your letter Of February II to secrs
: tary Baker was presented by your brothel
! Mr.. Coles, as head Of a delegation
I citizens from FL Paso. to me This com
mittee was referred by the secretary
I war to Mr. Fosdick and had q conferenc
with me in Mr.. Fosdicizs absence
Il read to the committee sections {
recent reports that we HAD concernin
conditions IN FL Paso showing that ther
z HE he done by ia