The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1922-10-07
WHITTIER ARE WE DRIFTINcp
By DR.. N. A. Majors

AS one passes through the second
ward whether it be along State Street
or Indiana Ave, he is impelIed to ask
the question wherefore the great cleo
tric signs which all but makes II look
like day. Who pays for this great ex-
pense of Illumination There Is some
business done by the people who use
these great electric signs. and to all
appearances our people must figure
considerably in the affair. We sur
mise there is at least an outlay in dol
lars amounting somewhere near fifty
thousand or more per month. Bright
lights are costly more than one way
to our seemingly improvident race. We
certainly must spend lot OF money at
night in this great city. several times
over the mere cost of lights to be
sure. We pay for the hired atten-
dants, we buy a lot OF wet goods.
eats, and we pay the rent OF the place
where these great signs are. besides
give the man in business enough
profit on his goods to make him
wealthy.
These kind of people call it having
a good time, spending their money
which, to make. must in many. cases
cost them vexation OF spirit. humilia-
ton, and sometimes degradation.
Sporting life, the youngsters call it.
Wonderful fun for the fool in his
folly. Meeting a thousand disgusting
scenes every night, at places where
lewdness and vile distemper unfit a
Young man or woman for decent fu-
ture. These are the scenes that make
old men out of young men at twenty
FIVE. and old worn out women at TWEEN
ty-two. But the empty minded must
have fun and foolishness for his
philosophy. He must have mirth and
music, wine. women. and song to
wake I'D his few ounces OF brains
while he lives his little life bounded
by the horizon of a lewd woman's
dissipated eyes. The Primrose Path
costs the dressed up fop all of his days
in quest of joy. 1t takes his money,
steals his soul, robs him of honor, and
at last brings him to unbegrudging
despair almost as ugly as hell.
What can be done to check this
onrush of moral decay among the
young men and women of our race?
The social organizations like the
church seem to be losing caste, and the
adventures finds for herself a harvest
dipping the fool and dressing better
than they do on the Gold Coast
The great white way in Chicago is the
road to perdition. You can never
convince the fool of his folly. He is
never bright enough to see the point
until II is too late. Every year finds
an exodus OF young men to Hot
Springs to get their blood boiled out
The knowledge so general among the
laity on the relative and curative prop
critics of 600. serums and intravenous
medication is fearful to contemplate
Women who once were the pride OF
their old home town all marked, and
scared by the yellow leaf OF de-
bauchery is too pitiable to think OF.
Nothing can be done, after a while
the hat is passed around, and we have
to bury them: that is about all we can
do for these kind of worthless trash.
The underworld, the night life, is
only a part of the ugly situation that
is dragging the race down to ruin and
hell. We cannot depend upon the
church, nor religion to make people
better, the preachers themselves are
none too good. We have got to
take greater pains with the little ones
now under our care, and teach them
as St. Paul says they ought TO be
taught 'in the fear and admonition of
God" Very little if anything can be
done TO turn the hayward youth OF
this generation back into paths of
truth and righteousness. The Sunday
school and the Christian home is our
only refuge. If there is no law that
can put an end to this holocaust of sin
and debauchery. then the race should
get busy and devise some plan to
drive the devil and his fallen angels
from about the homes Of the good
people who are anxious that their
children may come up under decent
Surely if the ministry
was worth a tinker's damn they would
worry the life out OF our aldermen.
city council, mayor, and the judges OF
the courts. If they stood truly for
more than the money there is in keep
ing a church they would have long
since gotten together, and by moral
persuasion. and threats to the political
life of the men in Office. accomplished
for the proper conduct of
the race.
The second ward is pointed to, and
held up as the dirty spot in Chicago.
It is excused for being the dirty spot
On the grounds wholly because it is
5~ned. and politically controlled by
he Negro race. White people call it
he black belt, and they bring and