The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-10-27
MORAL ISSUE
FAR-FETCHED

i (BY THE POLITICAL REPORTER)
Lets be fair" say the democrats
All right, let's.
Ask any policeman who has been on
the department for any number OF
years and he Will tell you that the
moral condition OF the city IS better
than 1t has ever been. due to a great
extent. to prohibition.
Tho police reporter complains every
day that things are not like they used
to be. In the good old days the police
reporter reveled in stories If crime.
There are fewer sensational stories.
It Is tough on the police reporter. who
being a good police feporter. feels
that he has q kick coming.
But the democrats insist that there
IS a moral issue in this campaign.
that vice is rampant and unfettered.
that the fair name OF the city IS at
stake. and the guiieless youth of the
community preyed upon.
1t ia fact that there have been dis
reputable negresses soliciting men on
Plummer avenue and they have been
promptly arrested and prosecuted by
a vigilant police department whenever
detected at their trade. Whether you
believe it or not II is true that certain
of the colored brethern are want to
engage in the pastime commonly
known as "salloping dominoes" 1t
is possible to get drink of moon
shine in East Hammond-not thous-
and miles away from councilman Sku-
fakiss hotel. 1t cannot be denied
that there are women of loose morals
and commercial instincts in the city
and they occasionally obtain rooms at
hotels and share their profits with the
attaches OF the hotels.
NO PROTECTED HOUSES
But there are no protected gaming
or Vicious houses in Hammond. The
police department Is free from any
suspicion of graft. 1t is constantly
seeking evidence against people and
places under suspicion.
Can Ed. Simon guarantee that there
will be no evil practices in this city
under his administration?
How does he propose to drive the
colored colony out OF Plummer avenue
and close their boarding houses and
pool rooms? Time after time the po- /
lice have sent stool pigeons into these I
places They have arrested negresses
and the nesresses have been fined and (
jailed by the city court. Does Mr.. /
Simon propose to have the police drive |
these people from the city limits?
Do a few instances of prostitution
and gambling which have been prose-
outed constitute a moral issue in city
election?
BETTER THAN ELsEwHEREr
II there were open houses of III
fame as exist in Indiana Harbor or all
night cabareta such as have been per
nitted in Gary. or slot machines and
booze parlors. then it would be time
20 cry "unclean." At Black Oak you
will find slot machines galore. there
IRE road-houses selling real" beer and
liquor But not in Hammond.
The moral issue is far-fetched.
Hammond is the best regulated city
n the industrial belt extending from
Joliet TO Gary. Down at Valparaiso
here has existed for score Of years
/ house Of prostitution operated by
~oman who boasts of having protec-
ion Of every administration. Point
o a place Ike that in Hammond La
Porte has at least one such resort. 1t
$ ''pinched" now and then but never
'ut out OF business. Michigan City
las a score OF them
Mayor Brown aud Chief Agstgen
'ave never permitted house of i'll
epute TO operate once they knew
bout IL The Piummer avenue plac- ,
. are al the worst. places of occas-
onal estignation and the police are
oing all in their power to prevent
hose conditions in the colored district.
Let's be fair. Fight this campaign {
ut on the real issues +
Policemen are not omnipotent. They !
annot listen in on every conversation {
T peer into every room a
Help the police Give them infor
nation Of law violations. Make af
davits. They're doing their best. {
'hey're hands ara not tied.
The moral issue as presented by the D
emocrats IS an unfair reelection upon I
he efficiency and integrity Of CHIEF c
f Police Austgen. an official entitled )
D the respect OF the citizens OF Ham
1oyd