Chicago Tribune
TAYLOR DEFENDS VICE VIEWS
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Tells Critics the Fact, Not Fiction, Confronts City.
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SIX MORE RESORTS RAIDED.
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Inspector Healy Says He Is After West Side "Robbers’ Roost."
Prof. Graham Taylor last evening replied to the minister who denounced his views concerning the regulation of vice outlined in a recent newspaper editorial.
The defense was occasioned by the statements made by the Rev. M. B. Williams, pastor of the Oak Park First Methodist church, Mrs. Lucy Hall, mission and slum worker, and the Rev. A. C. Dixon. Mr. Williams said that Mr. Taylor’s views "amounted to licensing disorderly houses"; Mrs. Hall declared that the only way to settle the vice question was to exterminate the red light districts, as in Des Moines and London; Mr. Dixon also declared that the resorts should be driven out entirely.
"The trouble with the whole thing is that we cannot act on fiction," Prof. Taylor said.
"If there were no resorts and no such women as their inmates we could easily take care of vice conditions. As it stands, the resorts are here, and the police have to deal wit the places and the thousands of people who are in the city leading a vicious life.
Lesser of Two Evils
"They have to choose between scattering these persons throughout the city and corralling them in one place where they can be watched and the contamination be kept from spreading. To scatter them certainly seems an increase of vice.
"I know something of the conditions that have followed the abolition of levee districts in other cities. In Salt Lake City, where there is no segregation , these people of the levees are found in all the hotels and in all parts of the residence districts of the city. New York has suffered the same results, and in London they are scattered all over the city. I wrote my views with the full knowledge of police experience in other cities.
"Des Moines is not a parallel case to a great city like this. These places can be eradicated successfully and the inmates driven away from smaller towns.
"What city has the best police regulation" There is no best; the police are rotten in all cities. I will say, however, that Chief Steward’s administration is all right so far, I believe he is sincere, and I am supporting him in his efforts.
Six More Resorts Raided.
Inspector Stephen K. Healy of the Desplaines street station started a new crusade against "the undesirables" of the west side levee last night, raiding six resorts and arresting more than a score of inmates. Some of the places visited have been immune for years.
The first raided the resort of Carrie Cure, 11 North Carpenter street. Efforts will be made to close the resort of Emma Marshall, 72 North Sangamon street, one of those raided last night.
"From what I have heard I am of the opinion that there are several ‘robbers" roosts in the vicinity," said Inspector Healy. "There has been no letup in the war against these people, and I believe that scores of men have been driven from the district. I am not bothering the places that are keeping within bounds, but it is a fight to the finish with those who fall short."
