The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-29
TAG DAYS ARE
THING OF PAST
IN WASHINGTON
Decree Goes Forth
Against the Char
ity Holdups.'
By BURTON LEE.
Consolidated Press CorrespOndent)

NOOpyTlSut, 4SZZ, Dy Ine ArRuS.)
Washington, May 29.-Tag days
are no more in the capital.
The district commissioners have
decreed that no more permits shall
be issued to the beauty squads who
held up pedestrians in the name of
sweet charity Rumor has it that
a United States senator, smilingly
| elected to be ''it'' by a great many
| fair collectors who knew him. was
| the power behind the issuance of
the order. Whether he was or not
| it is in effect.
The streets are to be made safe
for pedestrians, particularly male
pedestrians, but the capital will
miss the fair, fiirtatious-eyed, little
| highway woman" The streets
may resume their old time staid and
dignified aspect but at the same
time they will lose touch of color
| and life that has been well worth
seeing.
@Nearer to NOrmalcy.
Thus the District of Columbia
| emerges one step farther on the
! road to normalcy Before the war
| tag days were very rare When
they were staged here it usually
was for the benefit of some big
hospital or widespread charitable
function. Recently every pet char
ity, it mattered little how small or
unimportant, has had it's tag day
Almost every day was tag day here
Some of the Inhabitants it must
| be admitted are relieved at the
news. Men can start on their DOWN
town jaunts now without first max
| ing sure that they have plenty of
change jingling in their pockets
| Woe to the purse that contained
only bills. 1t was sure to be fiat
tened considerably before it's owner
reached office.
The fluffy little coin wheedlers
/ bobbed up at every corner. 1t was
difficult-in certain cases impos-
| sible-to refuse their f1attering,
melting-eyed appeal And being
tagged once was no guarantee of
immunity. Having fallen once he
descendant of Adam was often be-
sieged by whole parcel of expert
enced little gold diggers.
Sport Was Exciting.
"You bought tag from her, why
can't you buy tag from me-" they
| all would clamOr at once. Street
! corner vamping in the name of
charity was 4 sport in which some
of the daughters of the capitals
best families could indulge. 1t was
exciting and of course these street
acquaintanceships never went any
farther-or rarely ever. The girls
engaged in most of the drives and
/ they came to have their own par
ticular clientele.
While the suggestion was that a
senator framed the prohibition
there were contributory complaints.
1t was no secret that even the
police, probably observing the sue
cess Of the fiapper taggers went
| them one better at the time they
held their last benefit for the de-
partment welfare fund Some of
the more energetic officers stopped
: motorists to give them the oppor-
i tunity of getting their tickets early.
Conscience was operating in a
number of cases and although the
drivers left relieved to find that
| they only had to take few tickets
| rather than drive around to the sta
tion to furnish collateral they were
in none too amiable frame of
mind. This helped the decision 20
prohibit all such work along.
The commissioners are regretful
that they are compelled to make a
broadcast ruling. They would like
to make concessions to certain
charities if that were only possible
/ But if one is allowed then the
| others have the same right so all
are to suffer in the future.