a result of the prosecution in this case, the defendant was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary at Atlanta, Georgia, where the managers of the agency through which she was sold are also confined. The girl was restored to her parents, and has since been living a respectable life.
Examples.—In another notorious case which occurred in one of our Southern cities, the defendant, who is now serving a term of three years in the Atlanta penitentiary, married a very young girl—a mere child—and took her from place to place, where he arranged with cab drivers and keepers of assignation houses for meetings between his wife and other men, he taking the proceeds. The investigation in this case showed that he had previously married other girls and mistreated them in a similar manner.
In another recent case, which arose in one of our Eastern cities, one of these white slavers, as a result of carefully laid plans, covering a considerable period, succeeded in separating a very young woman from her husband, and under the pretext of procuring a divorce and of marrying her, led her into an immoral life and finally succeeded in compelling her to practice prostitution and turn over her earnings to him.
There are a multitude of other cases in which young women and girls, from thirteen years of age and upwards, of good moral character, have, in a variety of ways, been led or driven, by deception, fraud and force, into becoming victims of the white slave trade.
How these girls are retained.—If there is one thing above another which it seems to be difficult for people to generally understand, with reference to the white slave traffic, it is with regard to the manner in which these girls are led to continue in their immoral lives and to surrender their earnings to the white slavers after the physical restraint, to which they are at first subjected, is removed, and they are placed in assignation houses or other houses of ill fame, or are forced to engage in street soliciting. While the facts as to this matter will probably never be fully understood, there are many circumstances which throw light upon the situation. In the first place it should be remembered that when these girls fall into the hands of procurers an attempt is made to debauch them, as speedily as possible, to such an extent that they, themselves, as well as everyone else, will feel that they are hopelessly lost and can never again be received by their families and friends, and that there is absolutely no chance for them to go back to their old modes of life. Many of these girls disappear in such a manner that their relatives and friends never know what has become of them. Their relatives sometimes fear the truth, but they hope against hope that they are mistaken, and when, after a time, they receive from the girl a communication—written at the dictation of her master—to the effect that she is engaged in some legitimate occupation and is happily situated, they are only too ready to believe that such is the case, and the girl, herself, no doubt takes comfort in the thought that her relatives and friends know nothing of the depths of degradation to which she has been driven. These circumstances serve the procurer well. He makes it his business to obtain full information as to the relatives and friends of the girl, and knowing the real facts as to her life, and knowing that she feels that it would be better to perish in that life than to bring shame upon her mother or father, or her other relatives or friends, he uses this knowledge as a club to force her to do his bidding. If at any time he sees a disposition on her part to leave him and to return home or to engage in some legitimate occupation, he threatens to tell her mother and her friends all about her, and to represent to them that she has voluntarily engaged in the nefarious business into which he himself has driven her.
These creatures also frequently represent to their poor slaves (whether truthfully or not it is not for me to say) that they “stand in” with the police authorities, and are able and ready at all times to protect them from arrest, or to secure their release by furnishing bail, or otherwise, in case of arrest,
provided they do their bidding. They also threaten to cause their arrest and imprisonment if these poor victims fail to do their bidding.
These representations and others, which readily occur to these unscrupulous traffickers, who hesitate at nothing in order to hold their victims, usually serve to induce girls to at least postpone the time when they will change their mode of living, and often enable these men to control them without physical restraint, other than an occasional beating, after they have had possession of them for a few months. One of the principal representations that is made by these men to the girls, in order to continue to hold them under their control, is that they are saving the money for them, in order that both may, within a short time, quit their improper mode of life and take up some legitimate line of business. The date when they are to take this step is, of course, put off from time to time, as necessity arises, in order to hold the services of the girl, and many false representations are made as to the manner in which the money is being saved, the whole purpose of the white slaver being to retain possession of the girl during the period of her greatest earning capacity, and eventually to drop her, or turn her over to some other trafficker when he finds it to his advantage, and opportunity arises, to procure a younger or more attractive girl for his use. Meanwhile the traffickers themselves take practically all of the earnings of their girl, or girls, as the case may be—except that portion which is appropriated by the madam of the house in which the girl is located—and spend it for flashy clothes and in gambling and drinking, they in some cases spending a portion of their time in soliciting trade for their slaves.
In most of our cities of any considerable size there are numerous restaurants and other places where these slavers congregate for the purpose of drinking, smoking and discussing their affairs. With them the girls are merely chattels, and are lightly spoken of by them as their “meal tickets” or their “stock,” and deals are made between them for the exchange of girls or for the turning of them over to other traffickers. As for the girl herself—between the madam, who usually receives one-half her earnings, and the man, to whom she is generally required to turn over all of the rest of her earnings, and by whom she is also held to a strict account, and is frequently beaten and otherwise abused if her earnings are not sufficient to satisfy him—the poor girl is indeed in a miserable plight. No other form of slavery which has ever been devised can equal her condition.
A national disgrace.—Hours and days might well be consumed in explaining the facts and conditions involved by this white slave traffic in the different sections of the country, but if it has been made clear that there is such a traffic, that it extends throughout our entire country, and that it involves conditions which are a disgrace to our nation, it would seem that little else need be said regarding this phase of the matter, unless it be to add that it is estimated that not less than 25,000 young women and girls are annually procured for this traffic, and that no less than 50,000 men and women are engaged in procuring and living on the earnings of these women and girls, and that the number of women and girls engaged in prostitution in this country at the present time is estimated at not less than 250,000.
Power of the Federal Government to wipe out this awful traffic.—These figures will give some idea of the enormity of the evil which is involved. Moreover, it will be apparent that the white slave evil is one of a national character and one which cannot be successfully dealt with by local authorities. That it should be suppressed there can be no question, and this leads us to consider the facts as to the means available for its suppression.
By the Constitution of the United States the Federal Government is given three important powers, which have a direct bearing upon this traffic.
(a) By Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution Congress is given power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States.”
(b) By the same article and section it is given authority “to establish postoffices and post roads.”
(c) By Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution it is provided that “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction,” and by Section 2 of the same amendment it is provided that “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
It is believed that by these provisions sufficient authority has been vested in the Federal Government to enable it, by enacting and enforcing appropriate legislation, to absolutely wipe out every vestige of this awful traffic.
About two years ago, having in mind its powers under the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution, Congress enacted, under date of June 25, 1910, what is known as the White Slave Traffic Law, by which the transporting, or the persuading, enticing or coercing of women and girls to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, for the purpose of prostitution, or for any other immoral purpose, is made a crime.
This provision of law seems fairly well to provide such legislation as is necessary and proper under the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution. It is believed, however, that the hands of the government would be greatly strengthened in dealing with this traffic if the law were extended so as to make it a crime for persons to communicate by mail, telegraph, or in any other manner from one State or territory to another, or to any foreign country, for the purpose of inducing or persuading any woman or girl to travel in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose, and it would also be well if it were also made a crime to send any communication, by means of the telegraph, through the mails, by express, or by any other common carrier in interstate or foreign commerce, for the purpose of soliciting money or other valuable thing—the avails of prostitution—except for a legal and adequate consideration.
A statute of this kind would be very useful in dealing with persons connected with the white slave traffic who cannot be reached under the present White Slave Traffic Act, but who are communicating with and directing the movements of their victims and are receiving their earnings through the various channels of interstate and foreign commerce.
The use of the postoffice.—As to the Constitutional provision with reference to postoffices it is of the highest importance that legislation be immediately enacted which will absolutely prohibit the use of the postoffice establishment of the United States as an agency for the white slave traffickers in procuring women and girls and in directing their movements, not only from State to State, but also from one place to another in the same State, and in soliciting and receiving earnings from victims of white slavers. Investigations already made show clearly that the postoffice establishment of the United States is being very extensively and effectively used by white slave traffickers, not only as a means of communicating by letter and of soliciting and demanding and actually receiving the earnings of their victims, but also as a means of sending broadcast throughout the country cleverly-worded advertisements which greatly aid them in the pursuit of their traffic. Carefully prepared statutes have long since been enacted, prohibiting the sending through the United States mails of any obscene letters or communications, and also prohibiting the sending of any letters or other communications for the purpose of defrauding anyone. However, there is no prohibition whatever against the use of the mails for the purposes mentioned in connection with the white slave traffic.
Laws inadequate.—With reference to the slavery clause of the Constitution, it will perhaps be somewhat surprising to learn that there is no Federal law which makes it a crime for one person to hold another in slavery or involuntary servitude, unless such person has been, in the first instance, kidnapped or carried away, or bought or sold, and although our investigations have, in numerous cases, developed the fact that young women and girls have been actually deprived of their liberty and held in involuntary servitude of the vilest kind (in many cases they having had their street clothes taken away from them, having been confined by barred windows and locked doors, and also having been deprived of their liberty by drugs, threats of violence, and by actual personal violence), there seems to be no statute under which persons so holding them in slavery can be punished by the Federal Government. It is believed that under the circumstances a most rigid law should be enacted under this clause of the Constitution.
There are a number of other matters which it might also be well to cover in order to fully provide for the suppression of the white slave traffic.
New laws needed.—First. There should be an act of Congress authorizing a woman to testify in such cases against her husband. This is particularly essential for the reason that, as has already been stated, it is a common practice for procurers to marry their intended victims, and it is frequently impossible to secure a conviction without the use of the testimony of the woman or girl involved.
Second. Provision should be made by law for the issuance of search warrants by any United States marshals and deputy marshals, and agents of the Department of Justice, specially designated by the Attorney General for the purpose, to search any place where there is probable cause to believe that any person is detained or held in violation of law.
Third. The law should also authorize the arrest, without warrant, by the persons heretofore mentioned, of anyone detected in the act of violating any such statute.
Fourth. In order to assure prompt trials and substantial, swift and certain punishment in such cases, the law should also provide for the advancement of such cases, and their trial without delay, upon request of the Attorney General. It should also fix, with exactness, the minimum penalty in such cases and require judges to promptly impose and cause the execution of sentences and prohibit the suspension of sentences by the courts.
While, if the present White Slave Traffic Act were rigidly enforced, there would undoubtedly be a very great decrease in the operations of white slave traffickers throughout the country, it is impossible to prevent, under that law, the use of the United States mails in the manner which has been stated, and the thousands of instances where young women and girls are procured and held in this vile form of slavery within the confines of a State; and consequently the horrible fact of the existence of this slavery will continue a disgrace to our nation, notwithstanding the utmost that can be done by the agents of the Federal Government in enforcing the present White Slave Traffic Act.
Convictions and prosecutions.—In this connection, the question may well be raised as to why the present white slave law is not being more rigidly and effectively enforced throughout the country. With reference to this I desire to state that when this law was enacted no appropriation was made by Congress for its enforcement, and in view of this fact, the question of its enforcement was a very serious one. The department’s general appropriation for the detection and prosecution of crimes (which necessarily covers the expense of all investigations made by the Department of Justice for the purpose of collecting evidence as to crimes under the anti-trust laws, the bankruptcy statute, the national bank act, and many other laws, for the enforcement of which no other appropriation is provided), was already taxed to its utmost limit. Realizing, however, the great importance of determining promptly the nature and extent of the white slave traffic, and doing everything possible to prosecute violators of this law, the Attorney General promptly after the enactment of the law, directed that every possible effort be made, within the limits of our appropriation, for its enforcement. This work was immediately commenced and was pushed with the utmost possible vigor with the funds available for the purpose, and during the first year after the enactment of the white slave law about one hundred and thirty prosecutions were instituted against persons engaged in the white slave traffic, a very large percentage of these prosecutions resulting in convictions and heavy jail and penitentiary sentences. During the first nine months of this, the second, year since the enactment of this statute still greater efforts have been made for the punishment of the multitude of persons who have been found to be engaged in the white slave traffic, and the department’s appropriation has been taxed for this purpose to such an extent that in October, 1911, the point was reached where it was necessary for the Attorney General, in order to avoid violating the provision of the federal law prohibiting the incurring of deficiencies in appropriations under his control, to suspend operations temporarily, to a considerable extent, and to call upon Congress for an additional appropriation for the enforcement of the white slave law.
However, notwithstanding the very limited funds available for the purpose, during this period of nine months ending on March 31st, last, two hundred and nineteen persons were indicted by the Federal Government for violations of the white slave law, and in these cases there were one hundred and thirty-five convictions, and but nine acquittals, and about one-third of the cases are still pending. Moreover, the penitentiary and jail sentences which have been meted out to the persons who have been convicted under the white slave law within this period of one year and nine months aggregate three hundred and ninety-seven years, two months and twenty-four days.
While it was believed that steps should be taken for the absolute suppression of the white slave traffic, in so far as it was possible to do so under existing law, and while it was felt that the circumstances justified the appropriation of a very substantial sum for the purpose, in order to avoid the appearance of extravagance, and since it was thought that a comparatively small sum might be quickly secured, whereas there might be considerable delay if a large appropriation were requested, the Attorney General called upon Congress for an appropriation of $25,000, for the
purpose of defraying such expenses for the remainder of the present fiscal year, ending June 30, 1912, and also requested that his general appropriation for detection and prosecution of crimes for the fiscal year, ending June 30, 1913, be increased in the sum of $50,000 over the appropriation for the present fiscal year, in order to provide funds for work in white slave cases during the coming year. The urgency of this matter has been called to the attention of the proper government officials and committees of Congress, both by the Attorney General and by individuals and philanthropic societies in almost every part of the country, all of whom have urged the immediate appropriation of adequate funds for this purpose. While—perhaps through some misunderstanding as to the real situation—there has been an unfortunate delay in securing additional funds, and consequently the work of the department in attempting to suppress the white slave traffic has been temporarily crippled, I am glad to be able to say that we now have reason to believe that Congress will in due season appropriate the full amount which the department has requested for this purpose for the coming fiscal year, and that there is also a disposition on the part of members of Congress, with but few, if any exceptions, to provide whatever additional funds may be necessary to expunge this disgraceful blot of white slavery from the map of our beloved country, and to enable our country to take a stand before the nations of the world which will, at no very distant day, result in sweeping this monstrous evil from the face of the earth.
It is believed that when the people of this country begin to appreciate the enormous extent and the terrible nature of this great evil there will be no disposition on their part to temporize with it, but that they will demand not only that funds be appropriated sufficient to adequately enforce the present law, but also that the law be so extended and strengthened that it will enable the Federal Government to wipe out this evil for all time.
That it is within the power of the Federal Government to destroy this traffic, there can be no doubt, and if this is not done it will be for the sole reason that the law is incomplete, and that sufficient funds for the purpose are not within the control of our Department of Justice. Our department is thoroughly advised as to the situation and has formulated plans under which, if properly supported by Congress, it can wipe out the disgraceful condition which now exists. It is for the people of this country, and their representatives in Congress, to say whether or not this shall be done.
Note.—The foregoing address, the first ever given under sanction of our Federal Department of Justice, is the most authoritative utterance ever published on the White Slave Traffic in the United States. The address was read and approved by Attorney General Wickersham, and his assistant, Mr. Harr. Coming from this source and not from one who is seeking a career or other personal advantage from exploiting white slavery, every statement of fact can be accepted and the recommendations endorsed. Mr. Finch has been connected with the Department of Justice for nineteen years. We are assured by the press associations that fully 5,000 publications in North America noticed the address, most of them publishing a synopsis of 500 words, while a number published the address in full. In the opinion of some of our leading workers it introduces a new and aggressive activity on the part of our Department which sounds the death knell of this nefarious traffic in our country.—Reproduced by permission of “The Light.”
The greatest evil.—Wonder is often expressed these days at the very rapid growth and rise of the movement known as “The Social Purity Movement,” or as stated from its negative side, as is done most frequently, as the movement for the “Suppression of the White Slave Traffic and Public Vice.” The real wonder is that the world has not risen long before this in one mighty, well-directed effort to stamp out forever and annihilate its one worst enemy; for impurity is and always has been the greatest enemy and most relentless foe of mankind. In its modern and commercialized aspects it embodies in itself every evil in the category of sin and crime. It has brought more direct loss to the world and more acute suffering to human hearts than all other evils combined. Whether it is dealing with an individual, a community, a state or a nation, its finished product is always a wreck. It has literally filled the world with disease, with despair and with death.
Its only excuse.—Impurity or immorality finds expression in a public sense in the Social Evil or prostitution, the only known excuse for which is the plea that it has always existed, is a necessary evil and hence cannot be suppressed but must remain, under such regulatory measures as may be adopted. There are those of us, however, who believe that this is a false theory, not well founded in fact, and that as other great evils, in favor of which the same suave arguments were made, have from time to time been wiped out, even so can this ogre of public vice be suppressed. It is not claimed that all private or clandestine vice can be entirely annihilated, but its public phase can be and must be up-rooted if civilization is to advance. There are those who even now prophesy that America in licentiousness and graft is going the way of ancient nations long since dead, and that her days are numbered if these evils are not speedily checked.
Two colossal blunders.—The scope of this article will not permit going into the history of the Social Evil, or, indeed, taking up the history of the movement that has risen to combat it, but in order to form a foundation for the discussion we must call attention to the two colossal blunders which have perpetuated this evil throughout past centuries and enabled it to
attain to its present proportions. These questions may be discussed with even greater fullness in other pages of this book, but it is fitting that attention be directed to them here.
False modesty.—The first mistake which was made in dealing with this particular evil was to place a ban of silence upon it, upon everything that could refer to it, and upon our whole sexual relations, nature and life. The results were not happy. Nothing could have been done more conducive to the growth of the evil. It brought in and developed the reign of false modesty, of prudery. Concealment is not cure. This evil craves darkness rather than light, and thrives upon silence and secrecy. A Turkish missionary wrote me some years ago that in his country where women must appear with their faces completely covered, the grossest immoralities were practiced by wives, undetected, in the very presence of their own husbands. Many of our present-day customs in pleasures and dress which form strong temptations for our young men and young women, are a direct result of this “conspiracy of silence.” Here is a foundation stone upon which the whole miserable system of immorality rests.
The double standard of morals.—The second great error which has fostered the evil is that known as the “double standard of morals,” making the world act as though it believed that what was very wrong and unforgivable in a woman, was not only permissible but a necessity in a man. Undoubtedly the originator of this very logical line of reasoning was a man. Woman, if one false step is taken, one breath of scandal uttered against her, must forever wear the scarlet letter, or else she must be sacrificed to perpetuate the very evil that has overtaken her; while man may live in lust and if this alone be his sin, retain his highest social privileges and standing. Without question this double standard of morals has been the most stupendous outrage ever foisted upon any part of the human race. It was accomplished at a time when “man was king” and so slowly, and carefully and cunningly did he plan it, that it has not only withstood the test of time and continued to thrive, but it has not too infrequently gained woman as its advocate, until we often hear, and sometimes not without cause, that “woman is the worst enemy of ‘fallen’ girls.” With these two weapons, the conspiracy of silence and the double standard of morals, licentiousness has marched steadily onward until it has conquered the civilized world so far as asserting its right to life is concerned.
The commercialization of the social evil.—But to these two errors which have formed so strong a fortress to the Social Evil, must be added in more recent times a third support, one which many students of the question believe is the leading factor at present in the whole accursed business,—commercialization. The Social Evil to-day is raised to the standard of a business. It is conducted in all of its ramifications for gain. It has simply taken on the spirit of this money-getting age. Its real motive is gain, greed, gold. It is very largely a man’s business, too, run by men for the profit there is in it, and in our country those who are directly connected with the traffic are in the main foreigners. The White Slave Traffic, about which we hear so much these days, is a direct result of this commercialization. Girls are actually sold into dens of vice. Only recently have these terrible facts been substantiated and the methods of the traffickers known, and until the past few years the charges that there was a traffic in women and girls for immoral purposes, have not been credited or believed by the great majority of people. During the past few weeks under the direction of the United States Department for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, more than fifty men and women have been convicted and imprisoned for this very crime, and scores of indictments have been found against others. This scatters all doubt about there being such a trade. During the past few years evidence of the traffic has been so complete through the investigations of individuals, grand juries, vice commissions, and congressional investigating
committees, that there is no longer any question as to the traffic or its extent. The problem now is, how to suppress it the most effectively and speedily. It is asserted by a United States official that fully 50,000 men in the United States are living off the earnings of women of shame and in selling girls into vice.
Others who profit from the traffic in virtue.—But the buying and selling of women for immoral purposes is not the only way that financial profit is made from it. It was discovered in a certain city recently that an old house that would rent for ordinary purposes for $12.00 per month, was bringing $165.00 as a house of ill-fame. Landlords profit from the traffic. Liquor dealers profit from the traffic. In the same way but possibly to a lesser degree certain merchants, druggists, lawyers, doctors, professional bondsmen, gamblers and divers criminals profit financially from the nefarious traffic in virtue.
The extent of the evil.—The extent of the Social Evil in the United States is not definitely known. Surveys of cities have been very carefully made at times, and at the present time our Federal Department for the suppression of the traffic is conducting a very careful census of the women in houses of shame throughout the United States. When this is completed we may know more certainly as to statistics. The writer after a most careful and thorough investigation in 1898, estimated the number of girls and women in houses of shame in our country at 300,000. This figure has been very generally accepted and used, and from recent investigations it is evident that the number has not decreased. The lives of women in houses of shame averages five years. They do not all die within this time, though many of them do succumb to the horrors of the life and accompanying disease, drugs and drink in much less time. Some leave the life for honorable work or return home, a few are married, some are rescued, but whatever the cause of their departure from the miserable life, this one thing is sure,—for every one that gets out a fresh victim is required to take her place. Accepting these estimates as correct, we see 60,000 girls and women are required each year to provide for the constant demand of the public houses of shame. More than 2,000,000 men and boys are the patrons and consorts of these women, ruining morals, health and happiness, and this is one of the most deplorable phases of the whole system. The profits from vice in the United States are beyond estimate, but are known to run up into the billions of dollars annually. The Chicago Vice Commission estimated the profits from vice in Chicago alone as $15,000,000 yearly.
Why past movements have failed.—This is the Social Evil as we have found it in the past and as it is to-day, together with the fundamental causes that are back of it. Movements have sprung up during past centuries to stamp it out or at least to limit and control it. Rulers from Moses to Charlemagne have attempted to deal with the problems which it presents. These efforts in the past have failed largely because they sought reform through dealing with the women of shame only and thus was recognized and fostered one of the principal causes of the evil itself.
Why the modern movement is more effective.—During the past sixty years there has developed the modern purity movement which has sought relief from the ravages of vice through a careful study of the evil and the application of such principles and remedies as would meet the situation effectively. This movement has been very rapid in growth not only in Europe and America but in all civilized countries. Even Japan has its book, “The Social Evil in Japan,” which not only reveals conditions there but also gives an account of the various organizations that are endeavoring to suppress public vice, and appeals for such legislation and education as will forever make the old régime impossible. While space will not permit us to treat historically of the origin of this movement or even to mention briefly those who founded it, we desire here to record our profound admiration for the early workers in this great cause. The “conspiracy of silence” was then in full operation. The faithful men and women who first stepped out from the beaten paths and espoused the cause of the “fallen” girl, were far more brave than he who faces midst the excitement of battle the cannon’s mouth. These pioneer men and women whose hearts had been wrung by the atrocities practiced upon the victims of vice, the utter despair in homes disrupted, and the agony of lives diseased and ruined, were socially ostracized, they were brought before courts, churches were closed to them, friends deserted them, mobs awaited them, all because they chose to set the slaves of vice free and to proclaim the truth. But still they were true, laboring faithfully on until to-day no movement for the uplift of society has a more general following and devoted leaders. All honor to the pioneers in the purity movement!
Men are as guilty as women.—The purposes of the present purity movement have been strongly hinted at in the statement of the causes which have produced the commercialized Social Evil of to-day. Workers now realize that if the dangers and evils of prostitution and public vice are to be reduced to a minimum, that vicious men must be dealt with as well as the women and that spasmodic raids and clean-ups and sensational methods and literature must have no part in the program. The methods employed must be both safe and sane and systematically continued for an indefinite time. The “conspiracy of silence” must be broken, but not by going to the opposite extreme; the “double standard of morals” must be banished forever, not by lowering the standard for women, but by raising the standard for men; and through legislation and the strict enforcement of law, the commercialization of the Social Evil must be made impossible. This programme is sure to result in success if the movement can attract leaders who are sincere, religiously normal and sound, and who will follow methods that are safe and sane. Great evils must be met with great movement if success is really desired, and therefore this movement must not be exclusive but should be large enough to reach and influence the great mass of our people. These remedies will effectively suppress the Social Evil if systematically applied, not instantaneously, evils are not up-rooted in that way, but by a gradual process of elimination that in the end will mean annihilation. The remedies proposed may be briefly outlined under the following heads: Education, Legislation, and Rescue Work.
Education.—We believe that every child should receive all possible knowledge, imparted in a pure and wholesome manner at proper periods, concerning the purposes, problems and perils of sex. The ideal place
to give this instruction being the home and the ideal instructor the parent, but where this is impracticable, as it is in most homes of to-day because most parents are ignorant of these subjects, the church, the school, and special instructors should be utilized. Most high-charactered physicians are fully able to impart such knowledge wisely. Normal schools should prepare teachers generally for teaching the subject of sexology. Through parents’ meetings, fathers and mothers can be prepared so they may at least answer the questions of their children pertaining to these subjects. The Church and Sunday School with their strong religious and spiritual atmosphere, furnish almost an ideal setting for teaching this subject to best advantage to the young. The instruction should fully set forth the dangers and perils in impurity and thus give the needed warnings, as well as portray the beauty, healthfulness and happiness of the pure life. Falsehoods or deception as to where the baby came from, or any other fact pertaining to the sex nature or function, should never be tolerated for a moment. The public should be made acquainted with the nature and dangers of the diseases of vice, venereal plagues, and told that much of our physical suffering is due to these loathsome maladies. Ignorance is largely responsible in permitting the Social Evil to exist. It must be displaced with knowledge. The double standard of morals must be fought, and men who are impure given to know that they cannot continue in sin without losing their social standing.
Methods of education.—There are hundreds of organizations in the world to-day, a part of this great purity movement, engaged in promoting sex education. Some of them possibly may not be working in the wisest way, but as the work is yet in its pioneer days the only way to learn is through trying, and as the public conscience is being thoroughly stirred and countless numbers of our best men and women are studying the problem, we can rest assured that in time ideal methods will be evolved. Physicians who but a few years back were almost a unit in teaching the necessity doctrine for men, to-day are organizing and promoting the very highest and best education. Many denominational churches are establishing purity departments, while Sunday Schools are entering heartily into the great work. Many Normal schools and colleges and private institutions of learning are adopting special instruction in sexology. Parents’ meetings are being held everywhere to promote the cause. Many who have felt a special call to the work are devoting their whole time to lecturing and the preparations of books on these subjects. Prof. T. W. Shannon, of Missouri, the author of this book, is one of the best known of these specialists. Such societies as the White Cross for young men and the White Shield for young women, and departments in women’s clubs, temperance organizations, Christian associations, and church federations, are aiding splendidly in the furthering of this cause.
Legislation.—Much has been done and very much more can be done to lessen the evils of vice through the enactment of suitable laws and the strict enforcement of law. Those who make a business of vice must be adequately punished whether they are engaged in buying and selling girls, living off the blood-money of vicious women, renting property at exorbitant prices, or securing an income and support from the detestable business in any other way. The stage, the press and the street must be purified. Amusements, excursions, and playgrounds should be properly supervised. Immoral literature and obscene pictures must be banished. Social and economic life must be improved. The hours of labor must be shortened, wages must be raised, a minimum wage insisted upon, sanitary conditions in factories and shops must be improved, employment must be assured to all. The Age of Consent should be at least eighteen years in every State. Segregated and tolerated vice districts should be abolished. Those who decoy either girls or boys into disorderly houses, or seek to initiate them into lives of sin, should be severely punished. Every possible protecting measure in law should be thrown about our boys and girls, our young men and young women to shield them from the temptations of vice.
Law enactment and law enforcement.—It is encouraging to note the many good laws that have been passed by our several States and by our National Government during the past few years in line with the above suggestions. Our Federal White Slave Traffic Act, together with the Department that has been established for the suppression of the white slave traffic, is an exceedingly strong piece of legislation, and in conjunction with various State laws against pandering, will suppress in time this awful trade in girls. Age of Consent legislation, ordinances against immoral shows, regulation of public dances and other amusements, and hundreds of other measures, are good laws. It is stated by many reformers that we now have sufficient law to suppress these evils entirely, but that our failure to do so is due to the fact that the laws are not enforced. To remedy this very serious defect law enforcement campaigns are now on in many of the leading cities, and these efforts are rapidly spreading to smaller places. Such campaigns sincerely conducted, will in time lead to the strict enforcement of law in America. It has recently been suggested that every State should organize a bureau or commission for the suppression of public vice and the enforcement of laws against the crimes of vice. If this can be accomplished, it is quite certain to lead to a better enforcement of these particular laws.
Rescue work.—Purity work had its very inception in the rescue of girls and women from houses of shame. It was in connection with this work that the facts pertaining to the methods of organized vice were first uncovered. There are in the United States at the present time probably two hundred and fifty rescue homes for erring girls and women. Unmarried mothers are cared for in many of these homes while the girl who has gone wrong may find shelter and protection in them if she is repentant and sincerely desires to return to a virtuous life. Where houses of shame are closed or segregated districts abolished, it is but humane that the inmates of these resorts be cared for until they can be taught some trade or work that will give them support. Many workers believe that the State should erect model homes for the reception and care of all such girls. Many of the rescue homes now running are under the direction of the Church, or other Christian or religious society. We should remember that in the redemption of every erring girl, we not only gain her but accomplish much in the prevention and destruction of public vice if we can prevent another girl from taking her place in the underworld. It is thus largely a preventive work. Every purity worker who is sincere, believes heartily in rescue work that is wisely and carefully prosecuted.
A personal invitation—Come and battle with us.—This in brief is the purity movement as it has developed and as we find it to-day battling for all that makes for a higher standard of purity in the life of the individual and in social and civic relations, creating a sentiment, a purity literature and an army of well-equipped workers that will make it forever impossible to return to the days of ignorance and prudery that have always existed on matters of self and sex. It proclaims the right of every child to be well born and the right to be followed through life with such an environment and training as will assure the very best development and highest attainment. This is all it asks. Is it too much to strive for? Surely we could not be content with less and be true to the intelligence and soul-life that is ours! No cause since time began has had more to offer to those who enter its ranks than this. It appeals to every true man and woman to help carry its standards to victory, and then when ignorance shall have been abolished by knowledge, vice eradicated by virtue, disease displaced by health, and darkness dispelled by light, there shall be ushered in that Day of Days when man shall be supremely happy because he is pure.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y.