Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-19
March Toward
Perfection
By Frederic J. Haskin

Washington March t9.--- Reform leg
islation of the greatest Importance is
forecast by friends of the reform move
ment here at the coming session of Con
gress. Plans are being laid for a COM
,rchcnsvc reform program. The re-
sorm forces are moro than elated over
their success with the enforcement of
The prohibition amendment and with
the widespread attention which the blue
law movement is attracting. After
these triumps it is natural that they
should march onward toward fresh
achievements in the perfrcting of hu-
man nature by Legislative enactment.
II may be stated on high hut con
fidcntiaI authority THAT what is desired
bv many of the leaders In the reform
movement is Department of Public
Morals with Cabinet officer at its head
which would have charge ot the enforce
nent of prohibition. blue sunday leg
islaton and all of the other laws against
moral laxitY and sell indulgence which
the rcformers expect to have passed In
the near future. 1t is pointed out that
such a department would bc a logical
part of the American Government
which was founded by the Puritans and
which has always hdcu famous for it's
moral idealisn. one hundred per cent
AmcriCanism. they say, means 100 per
cent morality. and this latter can only
he attained by taking away fron human
nature 100 per cent of it's tcmtations.
The problem. therefore. is purely one OF
making enough laws and getting enough
policemen to enforce them.
The censorship of motion pictures is
one of the first objects of the reform
movement II derives special import
4nce from the Obvious tact that if tho
right OF the motion picture producers to
produce what they please Is curtailcd,
a precedent will have been established
which will make possible the censor
ship of the press and ali other forms
of human expression. The Importance
Of this for the cause of morality can
hardly be overemphasized.
The banning of tobacco in all its
forms has long been under discussion
in reform circles and il may he pre-
dicted that more will he heard Of II
soon. State Legislators have led in the
attack against tobacco by passing anti
cigarette VS.. and this is taken as proof
Of the constitutionality aud feasibility
of such legislation.
Pull Down the skirts.
Another matter which is expected to
come in for early and concentrated At
tertion from the reformers is that ~
irnmodest clothing for women. The
constant shortening of the feminine
skirt is only one OF several develop
rnents that are viewed with alarm by
those who have the moral welfare of the
rising generation at heart, state laws
have already been passed or proposed
banning high heels and rouge. and il
is felt that these furnish ample prec
edent FOR comprehensive legislation
enforcing feminine nodesty and prom0t-
inc morality. The first objects Of the
reforrners will he to keen wonlan's feet
nat on the ground and her skirts in
me near vicinity of her heels. or her
=hae tops at most Some Exceptions
viii I,e allowed for girls engaged in ath-
ieti, sports but males Of hubble age
viii be kept away from the vicinity of
such events. and those who are com
p,lIed by circumstance to hc about viii
be supplied by the police with binders
Having pulled down the skirts q foot
d Two ana eliminated the French heel,
ii r. rroIahe that the energies IF the
reform mbveuleut wiz he concentrated
.sl,an the. feminine waist line
Th. ptno,icst display ~ hodN curves
,4l. H. eiiminated il IS felt. by return
a. Niothel Hubbard style of dress. This
reform wT7Y~Ie foIT0v ed by regulations
As to the display of necks and arms.
N fact the only part Of the female
form which reformers Of all creeds and
varieties can agree upon allowing the
public to see ia the face. There has
even been some tentative discussion
about the advisability Of prescribing
thick wells for street costumes. The
high standard Of morality prevailing
in Turkey, where women are not allowed
tn show even their faces in public, has
been cited as proof Of the effectiveness
Of such regulation. on the whole
however. the liberal element here pre-
vaTls and il is probable that the Ameri-
can woman will continue TO be allowed
the use Of her eyes and complexion
and Iips (for ttculation not oacu-
Iationl in the pursuit of husband. She
will probably be deprived however. Of
such adventitious aids as rouge and