The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-04-10
4 NATIONAL MENACE.

Tho note ~ warning sounded by II. q. Jones.
superintendent OF schools at Cleveland, ohio,
that immortality Is the greatest menace OF tho
day, ls the gospel Itself. And the cause he at
tributes the failure Of parents TO make good
the Job, Is equally true.
But TO be told that our public schools have
become infected with immortality 20 such an
extent is alarming indeed. Yet know II to
be true Nor In this all OF tho re-
sponsbility he put upon tho parents. For the
school authorities who have charge Of the
young people, directing their activities both
scholastic and social must bear their just por-
tlon.
superintendent Jones attributes growing Inn
morality TO extreme drcsslng--both ms 20 style
and cost--"ciose" dancing and night motor
rides And he might have added, to the
ample set by parents in all OF those respects and
others
II Is fact that the tendency of recent years
has been 10 utterly demosh the last bulwark OF
mRdenly modesy II ~ thing TO pirate of
the common-scnsc OF short skirts and low neoIts
but II IL quite another thing to consider the de-
morallzine effect OF such exhibits upon the
natural passions Of human beings.
Likewise. II Is one thing to approve dancing
az natural and harmless amusement under
proper circumstances, but most distinctly an
other thing to encourage It In the schools espc-
cIaly the modes and steps that are practlood.
and TO, by the absence OF unatorablc oppos-
tion indirectly encourage the dances in public
places and with utter strangers.
II may be considered prudsh to suggest IT,
but the. fact remains that tho most practical
common sense argues against social distractions
OF any kind during the scholastic season: in
stead Of encouraging social affairs. which means
dancing and sex appeal however skillfully veiied
tho sophl7 catcd may put them, the admins
trative authorities OF the public school system
should bar thcm as far possible Low grade
cards can bo traced with unerring accuracy 10
late hours nj social events; a lack OF onthusias-
ito interest In the studies prescribed can he
traced to the source.
II has not been 80 long ago that woman of
reputation ana standing would consider herself
insltcd to he accosed by u strange man upon
tho streets Yet daily girls receive attentions
from strangers they never saw before. accept
invitations 90 ride in their cars and are given
an impetus upon the road TO social oNcesscs that
not infrcqucuty ends in degradation.
For this lack OF maidcny reserve the most
exquisitcly delightful Of all tho womanly yir~
tues the mother and father arc alono to blame.
Because were tncA ulctt 10 the welfare OF their
daughter they would have diligently nstlllcd
standards of conduct that would make such adj
vances instantly ropugnant, they would be 80
careful Of thcr dfuEhtors associations that she
would be induced to reject the companlonship
OF other girls who permitted themselves 20 re-
spond to such oyerturcs
But when turn 10 the circles Of so-called
high society, what do we discover Nothing less
than an invitation 20 tho young 90 reject the
advice we here set down, and laugh to scorn
those ancient virtues the strict observation Of
which gave America the sweetest and most yir-
tuous womonhood OF all the world Free love
Is praotIced with wauton opcnnoss and brazen
vulEarity.
But after all Is said and done e is not n
matter FOR the state but for the home. Parents
must come 70 understand that when a prattIiug /
babe comes into the home here comes an un- |
oscapable responsibility with it, II the jails arc |
not to bo enlarged ana houses Of prostitution
increased,
.--a-
But II the bosheviks supplant their rcd lucra-
.N.