Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-05-18
COMES BACK" AT GRAPHIC


you had an editorial under the cap
ton Fish or Cut Bait" that was so
widely divergent from the facts In the
case that would like the space to call
attention TO some mistakes that the
Graphic set forth. both In its direct
statements and its assumptions.
II II needless TO enter into discus
sion of tue modern dance ut this juno
ture, further than to say that despite
the statement Of the Graphic that ut
Is doubtful II any great number Of per-
sons can he found who are willing to
say that the influence OF the modern
dance IL lnimical to the highest interest
Of the Young life Of the community"
that number who signed the petition TO
the board Of trustees ON last Sunday
Is sufficient REPUTATION OF that assump-
ton and the signatures were placed on
the petition without any sort Ut cOer,
cion or personal solicitation, The fact
that the reports Of NIL social welfare
committees that have made scientific
Investigation within the past few years
have given as their findings that from
rs To - per cent OF abandoned women
attribute the influences that led to
their fall directly to the ball room
with it's pernicious influences. is suf-
ficient reason why that many goad
people have conscience on the matter
" Tho danes,
Tho facts which led to the action that
has recentl,' begun lies In the fact that
in many homes In Deming where there
are children Just coming to the social
age whose parenis art opposed To
dancing and are finding II increasingly
difficult 10 persuade their children OF
| It's dangers. The child points out the
fact and truthfully, that II they are not
permitted TO attend he dance that ii
means practical isolation from the
standpoint Of society. The attitude OF
the teachers In the public schools upon
this question has wide bearing In its
! influence upon the life OF the young
people of the community. From the
standpoint Of Young life. the TEACHER Is
the greatest single influence that has
bearing on the student life, and why
not? The SUNDAY school, even II they
attend. has Onl" One hour per week
with them, and the busy mother often
In restricted by houst hold duties from
having constant touch upon their
life, while the teacher has 30 hours
each week Of intimate contact with the
student. and under surroundings that
make that contact vital. There Is
compulsory school attendance law in
the state Of New Mexico that should,
and doubtless has, the enthusiastic
support of the large majority OF the
school patrons. | ask the question: Is
IL fair to the parents who have CON
scientious objections TO the modern
dance, 10 he compelled to place their
children under the constant and init
mate influence of teacher that both
by precept and example set at naught
all the teachings Of the home and
church upOn this question. beg 10
remind the teachers, who in their pro-
test state that the action as called Tor
In the petltion Is "undemocraiio aud an
insult to each ~ them personally" CO.
that IL they will consult any standard
text book on ethics that they will find
he following language or Its equivalent
THE principle that every man has u
right ~ the free use Of his powers In
gratifying his normal desires may he
stated thus Every man has right to
the free use Of his powers In so far as
he does not interfere In the rights OF
any others that Is, does not violate the
right OF another, or does no one
wrong" The writer has engaged in a
number Of prohibition campaigns In the
lhays that are gone In which the same
arguments In essence were made that
such measures were an Invasion OF the
personal liberties" Of the individual.
In organized community life there can
he no such thing as n personal liberty"
| that interferes with the rights OF
others. There are considerable mum.
her Of people in the Deming public
school district who have decided con-
victlons upon this question and they
are taxed to support an institution that
sets at naught by its present policy their
teachings upon the subject and we af-
firm that they have right to protest
such action.
The Graphic states that the Com
munity Service, Inc, offered a practi-
cal program for the whole community.
We would like for the Graphic to state
exactly what il did offer I'm this pro-
II
gram. We have been unusually inter-
ested In any such program that might
he offered and the only feature that
was advertised and the only thing Of
fered 10 far as the writer recalls. was
that Of the public dance and In all
other functions that have been given at
the Armory under whatever leadership.
have received the encouragement and
assistance OF all the people. The Ora
phic's attempt TO point out that the
Armory building. furniture, etc, Is ca
pable OF evil. In the eyes Of some. Is
only a Iuerile attempt to bring into
contempt the ideals and convictions OF
many good people I'm the community.
II seems that the fayorite expression
OF some In this connection comes In the
way OF challenge. Even so let II be!
Who made possible the financial sue
cess OF the chautauqua that was re-
Gently held In Deming? Take a poll Of
its supporters. The writer from the
pulpit frequently urged its support
and when after the heroic efforts OF
the ladies who had II I'm charge. and
the funds above the expense 20 90 for
one Of the greatest benefits that any
community can have would have wholly
e.ti.H hod IL NOT hs.ou for tho church