The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-23

= 10 HOAANo WOyOs ~ W AN9A q
day and night but they don't bother
US. because they got no right to.
Our landlady has got some drag
with the bosses. One Of the bosses
buys her pretty things, that's how
good she stands. I guess she must
pay somebody something, but l
don't know nothing about that. But
l do know that we-are not going
to be bothered by the police, and
you are Just rs safe here as you
would be In your own home"
I left and returned to the bar.
where the woman mistress Of the
establishment was sitting alone in
. rear room. didn't make much
Roadway with her in asceftainfng
how 1t was possible for her to con-
duct . house of prostitution ON .
main thorOughfare Of the city, but
she indicated to me that she wasn't
enjoying as much prosperity as
she had before orders had gone
out that there must be less public
display than there had formerly
been.
Wires Crossed.
Every SO often something hap
pens In our business the woman
said. Somebody gets the wires
crossed and we've got to put the
brakes on. We thought at first we
would have to close tight this time,
but the skies are beginning to
brighten and I reckon things will
be all right again shortly"
I asked the woman point blank
II she paid graft, and she claimed
that she didn't. But she did assure
me that she was safe from police
interference, and l took it for
granted that she must have made
arrangements with the powers that
rule the local underworld.
Four doors east I found another
negro restaurant and house OF
prostitution. When / entered the
place several negro men were seat
ed at lunch counter. There was
an asthmatic instrument humping
in rear room. I walked on back
after l had asked the man behind
the lunch counter if I might do so.
This was not as high class resort
as the one | had just left There
were three negresses and mixed
| gathering Of white and negro men.
/ All had been drinking. Some were
talking and some were trying to
sing.
One of the women approached
me and made the usual proposals.
One of the negroes seated at a
table dropped glass on the floor.
THAT crazy coke-head," said the
woman to whom l was talking. He
ought to have high chair and a
bib. He's hitting too much snow.
First thing he knows he'll land
VII ere they amt none Of that old
stuff to be had"
| All of those in the place were
drinking beer. I didn't see any
whisky, but was told it could be
had If I wanted some. The atmos-
phere Of the place was so depress-
ing that l decided not to linger and
to return at some future time when
it was more quiet and l could get
a chance to talk to some of the in
mates. The women we're poorly
dressed, haggard, dissipated. 1t
didn't look like prosperous es-
tablishment. There were enough
men there. but l wouldn't imagine
that all of them had much money
/ to spend. 1t was~such a place
where you would expect to find the
lowest types Of humanity of both
races. There was not the restraint
that was apparent in the resort a
few doors west. / have investigat-
ed conditions in number of cities,
but I don't believe l have ever seen
a lower dive than this one that l
have just described.
| finished my nights visitations
| by calling al three hotels on Mar
ket square. There were soliciting
prostitutes and whisky at each ho-
tel. did not stop long enough at
either of the three to make inquir-
les as to the terms under which
the hotels were conducted, but !
saw enough to convince me that
they were fully protected against
police interference. There was a
register at each hotel. but I don't
/ imagine that much use had been
made of any of them. The register
is simply a precaution. Occasion-
ally an innocent person will apnly
for a room at such hotels. He NAV
have his wife with him. II it SO
happens that there is a spare room
and il looks like a quiet night. the
couple is accommodated. but as 3
lrule such patrons are turned away
because their presence might inter
| fere with the regular traffic.
At one of the hotels l found a
gambling room. There was a craps
table in operation and several men
were playing poker, Drinks were
served to the PLAYERS This hotel
+ learned Is MANAGED nv one of the