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Show n THE ARGUS. 2 Zbc Hrgus. Isiued Weekly by THB ARQUS PUBLISHING COflPANY. Entered at the Salt Lake City Poatoffice aa aecond-elaa- a matter. have been keeping a harem; that this syndicate has had elegant apartments on the North Bench and on Third South and Main streets ; that the men have kept mistresses in these places ; that she found her husband sick in one of the rooms on one occasion ; that his in the harem business are a city councilmen, a bank official, an actor, and a physician, constituting what might ordinarily be termed a strong combination for such an enterprise. Now, it is not impossible to imagine this state of affairs. There are men in almost every city of consequence, and little towns are not entirely free from them, who support mistresses and maintain private apartments for such purposes, and pass in the community as moral, upright men. If Mrs. Griffins allegations are proven to be true it should not be thought for an instant that the only place of that character has been thrown open to public inspection. There are many such. And it all goes to show that the work of municipal reformers neednt be confined to the slums. The worst vices are secret vices. The most dangerous evils are not those which are known to the general public. The past week has been one of sensations. It has furnished a feast to the daily papers and plenty of crumbs to the reading public. It will furnish a text or two for The Abgcs to preach from. The Griffin divorce case, with its exposure of official fraud in municipal affairs, with its charges and denials and recriminations, with its own peculiar social features, has furnished a theme for meditation. The Hamilton murder case, with its repulsive features, its salacious disclosures, its connection with the upper crust of society, and its tragic sequel, offers a full course of instruction to the young the importance of which should be duly impressed upon their minds by teachers, preachers and parents. The week is not without its lesson to honest reformers who are really working for mankind rather than themselves. The white curtains of Salt Lake society have been drawn aside for the moment and a glimpse has shown that all the sin and shame and depravity of this community is not hidden by the scarlet screen of the brothel ; that all profligacy may not be traced to houses of ; that men who shrink from the publicity of Commercial street are not always doing so for moral reasons ; that the worst form of the social evil lies in the assignation house and the liasons of men who can afford the luxury of private apartments. The public is afforded a peep at this condition every now and then in fact it is about the only chance ordinary mortals have to get acquainted with the inner circles of society, and often they unjustly blame the innocent with the guilty. Unworthy people are puffed up in the papers, paraded in the social notes, petted and lionized, wined and dined, sought after, received with open arms in the home of innocence and in the church, encouraged by parents and welcomed by preachers all because they belong to a club, a fashionable congregation or an exclusive set. Society should not be held responsible for the shortcomings of its more indiscreet Lotharios, but the blame begins when the offence is condoned and and reinstated in the the offender social kingdom. co-partne- rs SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, APRIL 24, 1897- - ...... TERTIS OP SUBSCRIPTION. Any part of the United States, Canada or Mexico, one $1.50 year, postage paid England, Prance, Qermany, and all countries embraced 2.00 in Universal Postal Union, one year, postage paid 2.00 . . Other Countries, one year, postage added 2.00 . advance for when not or in paid By Carrier, Postmasters sending subscriptions to The Argus may retain 25 per cent, of subscription price as commission. New Subscriptions may commence at any time during the year. should be made Payment for The Argus, when sent by mail, in a postoffice money order, bank draft, or an express money order. Ween neither of these can be procured, send the money in a registered letter. All postmasters are required to register fetters whenever requested to do so. If the Paper is not desired beyond the date subscribed for the publishers should be notified by letter, two weeks or more before the term expires. Discontinuances Remember that the publishers must be notified by fetter when a subscriber wishes his paper stopped. All arrears must be paid. mailed to a new Requests of Subscribers to have their papers address, to secure attention, must mention former as well as present address. Address all communications to THE ARC1US PUBLISHING COT1PANY, Salt Lake City, Utah. Editor. NOBLE WARRUM, JR., investigation. Serious charges have been made against certain members of the City Council, and the air is full of corroborative rumors. In relation to the plaint filed by Contractor J. H. Griffin in an action for divorce, his wife alleges, among other contracts were things, that his invariably secured by fraud, and that Griffin had freely admitted as much to her ; that he bribed certain councilmen and, in 1891, paid $2300 for the contract, giving the money to one member, with certain others; who refused to divvy that a leading banker, not named, was mixed up in the transaction ; that Griffin secured a two years contract last April in a similar manner, the only difference being that he bought the privilege to open and examine the other bids before handing in his own ; and, in connection with this business, she mentions the names of Councilmen OMeara, Newell, Le Prohon and There should be an immediate investigation. Public policy demands it ; and the men accused, if innocent, should insist upon it. As the matter stands there is reason to believe 44 The there is something rotten in Denmark. presumption of truth is in favor of the woman, although the burden of proof rests on an accuser. But her excellent standing in the community, her good character and her reputation as a woman of truth and respectability, all combine to lend a force to her statements that leaves its impress upon the public mind. This is another reason why innocent members of the City Council Bhould demand a most thorough investigation. However, the daily papers are mistaken in claiming that such matter will be made a feature of her answer in the pleadings. It has nothing to do with the case at issue. Whether or not a husband bribes officials cuts no figure in divorce proceedings. She simply makes these declarations in explanation of Griffins complaint that she had interfered in his business affairs, and she certainly does establish the fact that she kept pretty well acquainted with them. com- street-sprinklin- g Wis-com- well-establish- b. ed When Mrs. Griffins answer is filed in court it will contain charges every bit as sensational as those she has made orally to newspaper men and to the general public concerning a few members of the City Council. She will accuse her husband of adultery and deoeption ; she will claim that he and other business men of Salt Lake City well-know- n ill-fam- e high-tone- d white-washe- d In the face of recent developments the statement that the world is getting better may be challenged. But it is a fact. The average of mankind morally and mentally is gradually rising. The small percentage, the few comprising the upper stratum of society are doubtless degenerating, but the great mass of humanity is constantly improving. 1 b The trouble in Salt Lake City is the trouble everywhere. Look at the aristocracy of the national metropolis ( the four hundred with its scandals, its unhappy marriages, its intrigues, its divorces, its blackmail, its duels, its illegimate offspring, its questionable orgies, its suggestive fads, its fetich of publicity in private matters for which new journalism is wrongfully blamed. The same evils exist in some form or other in every city of consequence in the world. If Salt Lake is not innocent there is nothing in the fact to discourage one. But the disgusting immorality of some who claim affiliation with the better class of people crops out at irregular intervals with details so sickening that people wonder how much more there is concealed. Preachers have been known to defile the sacred sancturies of religion ; business men have compromised themselves with women of questionable repute in stores, apartment houses, hotels and hacks; fashionable women have been discovered in places of assignation with married men of wealth. Sometimes the imp of jealousy plants a doubt in the heart of the husband ; he watches, follows, accuses and frequently commits a felony in his rage and humiliation. Sometimes he becomes a victim, as in the Hamilton case ; and with the crime comes exposure. 4 Grime is thought to be a result of social conditions more than the freak of irresponsible individuals. Buckle learned from the study of civilization that the operations of crime are as regular as any other in the domain of sociology. Certain conditions are the natural result of certain environments, and 1 t upon those conditions depend the character and o prevalence of crime. The tendency of the to erect a barrier between themselves s and their less fortunate ; the disposition of the less fortunate to scale that wall at any cost, to climb the social ladder, to enter the garden of ease and indolence, to gratify their vanity, to comply with the mandates of fashion these are the besetting sins which lie behind the Social distinccrime and immorality of well-to-d- fellow-being- to-da- y. tions, poverty, pride, vanity, discontent, envy, covetousness, temptation, surrender, disgrace and crime these follow each other very naturally and logically. Here is an ambitious woman, discontented with her lot ; she sees no legitimate way of rising in or keeping up with the world ; her husband is poor and her station is humble ; she longs for something better, easier, grander, more ideal ; she begins to loathe her home, herself and the man to whom she is bound down. Then the tempter comes, with his superior accomplishments ; he has gold and social position and winning ways and experience with women. She listens, she hopes, she believes, she imagines that her dreams are about to be realized. She falls she gratifies her vanity, her passion, her ambi tion. She wears better clothes, has more money more time for worldly excitement than ever be fore. She is compelled to take chances certain ly, for she must earn these new delights. Fi nally, the relationship is discovered, she con fosses, her paramour owns up, separation follows quarrels ensue, murder is committed, the injured husband is taken to the morgue, the faithless wife to jail and who is the murderer? - .1 murderer may escape convic- tion in the courts, he may even find his way back into the good graces of women and the companionship of men ; he may J; receive a promise of fellowship and salvation from H ministers of the gospel, but he cannot escape the f conviction of his own knowledge, he cannot close his ears to the accusation of his conscience, or A No 1 s ' J 4 - a I |