The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-15
Women Declare q. I
- - > War on Vice
Columbia City Council AbandOns
Proposed Plan for Columbia

| men made d demonstration at the city
! nail yesterday that clearly indicated
| lhelr determination to take an active
| iltefeSl III political and economical at
| lalfs. Council ia considering the All
Vlsapillty OF adopting Il segregated dis
| tflct and to tell the story briefly the
women, accompanied by reading men
ot Columbia, explained what they
wanted and got il. The plan to adopt
segregated district has been shelved
| Tor the time being and council prom
ised to make "A campaign TO clean up
the city. Automobile traffic and evils
are 10 be attacked and communities
are " be rid Of Objectionable .charac-
| tcrS.
The Rev. c. r. Burts, ID. d., was
outspOken in his position on vice and
| declared that council was contending
against the highest law. He thought
| it was an idle dream for council to
think segregated district would i'm
prove conditions. He said the idea
was cowardly, and council would do
| the state of South Carolina an in
| Justice to suggest a vice district.
Prof. Josiah Morse spoke emphati-
cally on the subject. He said, Gen
| tfemen, you have but one duty to
perform You should say, Thou shalt
not and equip your police force to
punish those who insist on evil do
ing. DR.. Morse declared the mat
ter called for information and judg
ment. He real extracts from re-
ports OF vice commissions and each
one expressed opposition to district
plans. Segregated districts were de-
clared to be unrelia BILE, ineffective and
| TO promote vice and increase crime
rather than to reduce them. Further
more the plan is inhuman. Commits
sions reject the policy of placing a Ii
cense on social evils
Dr. Burts offered a motion to the
effect that segregated districts are
not the best solution for social evils"
and the delegation before council
Ivoted aye, enthusiastically. Cheers
greeted the announcement that no one
voted on the opposing side. Another
motion that the delegation ask coun-
Gil to delegate three plain clothes men
{ to work on a vice squad was adopted
jamid enthusiasm. Councilman Earle
took the floor and proceeded to offer
"a motion, to agree with the request
and council adopted the motion. The
committee will name a subcommittee
to consult Chief Richardson and Sc
lect the three officers for the work.
City COZ lcil was confronted by a
score Of determined women who came
prepared to make an earnest protest
against a segregated district. With
the women were ministers and pro-
fessional men. The men and women
cfn
steady fire until their position was un-
terstood. One woman politely de-
clared that women were being dis
criminated against while another sug-
gested that a segregated, district for
| men might be included in the DroDO-
sition before council. Another enthus-
iastic woman asked why it was that
no funds We're on hand to enlarge the
police force when the body voted $4,-
600 for an entertainment fund a short
time ago. The women made it plain
that they opposed any effort to pen
women and let men run wild.
Members of council made plain
I frank statements to the delegation.
Each member expressed favor to the
segregated district and declared 1t TO
be the best for the city. Mayor
Blalock and Councilmen Earle, Cole
man, Marshall and Rice explained
their views and asked for remedies
Chief Richardson was present and
answered questions. Many questions
were asked by the Rev. r. s. Trues-
dale, the Rev. C. E. Burts, the Rev.
II. Z. Skinner, the Rev. A. w. Black
wood, J. n. Frierson and Josiah
Morse. The women joined in the ex-
change of views and made suggestions
that often brought cheers.
Councilmen heard many stories
about vice conditions yesterday and
they acknowledged that they were
wrestling with a perpleXing problem.
Councilman Marshal repeated story
ofea young girl who was invited to
take a motor car drive. She was car
ried on county road and was, COM
PEELED to leave the machine and seek
aid in a home by the roadside. The
man who drives his car to the curb
line, toots his horn and invites young
ladies to take a spin was denounced
before the delegation and council. The
handy car around the corner that
stands ready to haul passengers for
immoral purposes was remembered
during the extended discussion.
Mayor Blalock said daily complaints
werr being made on occupants Of
houses in Columbia. Women of queS-
tonable CHARACTER are the cause OF
neiGhbors going to city officials and
asking for relief. Council had weigh
ed matters carefully and thought a
segregated district would be the best
solution for the troubles.
1t was plainly evident yesterday
that the delegation that appeared be-
fore council is rock ribbed for a war
AGAINST vice in Columbia. Notice was