Fighting the Traffic in Young Girls Part 38

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

CONDITIONS IN LONDON.

By Miss Lucy A. Hall, Deaconess of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Chicago.

George R. Sims says, "The mother of cities lays her whole heart bare to no man. There is no man living who has fathomed her depths. There is no man living who has mastered her mysteries."

For the last quarter of a century especially there have been emanc.i.p.ating influences and efforts of n.o.blest kinds which are really bringing, somewhat gradually, but very surely, a new London--a city that is winning a right to be viewed as a centre of largest endeavor for civic righteousness that history can so far record.

The Bishop of London, presiding at their National Vigilance a.s.sociation, July 20, 1909, had a right to say, "We have succeeded in getting London united on moral questions." By his side was the Archbishop of Westminster, who said among other significant words, for the Catholic Church that, "While we work together to advance the object of the a.s.sociation and its dealings with this terrible traffic, we should also make every possible effort to build up, in the children of the country, a definite and clear belief of what they owe to their Maker and of the account they will have to give Him hereafter."

The Chief Rabbi, Dr. Adler, made many vigorous statements, among which some were unusually impressive. Speaking of the White Slave Traffic, he said, "It does not merely affect the welfare of the English people, but also the welfare of the entire globe. The evil must be regarded as a veritable cancerous growth on the body politic, which must be excised.

The authorities in Argentina have largely succeeded in purifying Buenos Ayres." He then spoke of the purpose of the National Vigilance a.s.sociation, and said it was "To obey the bidding of the prophet, that which is lost, I will seek again, that which has gone astray, I will bring back, that which has a wing broken I will bind up, and that which is sick I will strengthen."

Seated at the right of the chairman were Her Royal Highness the d.u.c.h.ess of Albany, Alice, Countess of Strafford, the Countess Dowager of Chichester, and Mrs. Creighton. The last named in representing the women of England called attention to the need of educational plans, and said, "Sometimes one gets afraid of the people fighting with evil, thinking only of that fight, and not sufficiently of the building up that is needed to make the right so strong, that it has nothing to fear from the wrong. Don't let us forget to let it educate ourselves also, and to make it for each of us our great work to maintain that high and healthy public opinion which will make it ever more and more difficult for evil to prevail."

Sir Percy W. Bunting, M. A., one of the founders of the a.s.sociation, spoke of it as "an organization of the helping instincts of all the churches, based on the mere humanity of the case. We touch here the fringe of the greatest moral problem in all time." Mr. Donald Maclean, Member of Parliament, Mr. Archibald J. Allen, Mr. Arthur R. More, Sir Francis Channing, Member of Parliament, Mr. Bullock and Mr. Coote spoke hopefully of prospects insured. This was really a platform of very earnest people of differing creeds representing Royalty, representing the great Law Making Body, different organizations and the great business world.

Among those in attendance were Lady Hughes Hunter, Lady Bunting, Lady McLaren, Colonel and Mrs. Young, Lord Radstock, Very Rev. Dr. Jackman, Very Rev. Father Bannan, Miss Leigh Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Fox Butlin, and Dr. Wilbur Crafts of Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., with many others, making a really great meeting--great with people of diverse thought on other subjects, great in the inspiration gained, great in a.s.surance of increasing momentum of a magnificent endeavor that should, with correlated efforts of other National Vigilance a.s.sociations bring a world force that shall be mightier than the evil however deeply intrenched that may be.

At the meeting of the British Committee of the International Bureau for Suppression of the White Slave Traffic there was a demonstration of the power of crystallizing different National organizations. The Bureau is strong in its members and leaders and especially its General Secretary, Wm. Alex. Coote, who has visited every capital in Europe and organized National Committees in every country except Turkey. He has won Royal recognition in Germany in having presented to him by the Emperor of Germany a diamond monogram as a recognition of his efforts on behalf of German girls. The President of the French Republic has made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. King Alfonso of Spain has made him a Cabellero of the Order of Charles III.

At this day's meeting, W. F. Craies, Esq., legal advisor presided.

Reports were read from different countries.

From Sweden, came the word that the Princess Royal had accepted the Presidency of the National Committee and attended nearly every Committee meeting, which was a guarantee and stimulus to the success of the work.

Efforts for legislation and plans for a.s.sisting girl travelers are among the good works.

From Switzerland, among other good methods for defeating vice, Government has legislated against the abuse of the Poste Restante, providing that no minor can be allowed to receive correspondence without a permit or authorization from parents.

From Germany, fifteen traffickers had been condemned and forty-two girls re-patriated as some of the results of their National Committee. They are also working toward strengthening their laws.

From Egypt came news of development in spite of many difficulties. Seven hundred fifty-nine girls of minor age had been stopped and placed in hands of their respective Consuls, 485 of them being Greeks. Three hundred ten girls have been rescued. Forty-six souteneurs denounced, 22 of whom are exiled. Thirty minors were re-patriated.

Canada has a strong new law that with the impulse of the International Council of Women held in June brings the question squarely to the front.

From the United States reports showed aggressive work on the part of voluntary organizations, state's attorneys, and federal attorneys in vigorous law enforcement, and effective new laws enacted, with good hope of further legislation, and some diligence in educational plans through public gatherings, and sending literature where it has proven to be the needed help in many communities.

Mr. Coote referred to the deputation to the Home Office of March 30, which had been fully reported at a previous meeting. He regretted now that owing to other urgent matters before Parliament their bill which met such encouragement might not be brought forward at the present session.

Plans were made for delegates to the Congress of the International Bureau to be held in Madrid in May, 1910.

Announcement was made for a conference of station workers in Neuchatel, June 2, 3 and 4, 1910.

From these two great meetings, it would be discovered to any in attendance, that there is a purpose, and loyalty and persistence, characterizing the people and their methods, which is just as readily discovered in their everyday work.

Several similar and strong organizations are doing thoroughly good and effective work. The British Committee for the Abolition of State Regulation of Vice, under the efficient leaders.h.i.+p of Henry J. Wilson, Member of Parliament, is one of merit. The London Council for the Promotion of Public Morality with the Bishop of London as chairman, is an organization standing for justice and skilled means in the obtaining.

The societies known as preventive are numerous The Girls' Friendly Society of the Church of England, is a splendid plan covering truly what its name implies, being real friends to its members. Their work includes clubs, cla.s.ses, and a most careful record, copy of which is sent ahead to other cities or countries in case of removal, so that there are friends to meet them and continue the chain of friends.h.i.+p, reporting back to the national office from time to time, sustaining a relation to the girls wherever they go, friends.h.i.+p awaiting them through record made.

The Church Army of the Church of England is doing a most beautiful and many sided service, chiefly among the criminal, outcast, careless and neglected cla.s.ses. They connect with the Probation System and help many who otherwise would go to the prisons, restoring many to their families and places in society. Their many departments include the League of Friends of the Poor, working toward removing causes of distress, giving employment where warranted, planning labor homes where direction is given to expenditures and habits. The Emigration Department seeks to farther locate some who are better for being quite away from old a.s.sociates. The Women's Social Department is very successful. Industrial homes whether for rescue or preventive cases have been of great service.

Women's clubs have held together those who have pa.s.sed through these homes. A large work-room affords work for many who otherwise would find no way. Fresh air homes, dispensaries, factory girls' club, with the evangelists' training home, the missions, women's evangelistic departments, needle-work guild, out-door rescue work and rescue worker's training home, rescue workers' union, the Church Army Brotherhood and the many other departments make a very great plant yielding most beautiful fruitage in the lives of those helped.

From their rescue training home the sisters go forth, two by two, to seek during the night hours for the poor wanderers who haunt the thoroughfares. On such an evening out where London is worst, around Piccadilly, Bloomsbury, Haymarket, among the showy throngs, and in the less lighted streets where distressed, cowering, fearful ones wander, let us come with these workers and note the many who are willing to stop and receive a flower or a message or daintily prepared letter, and see the surprise when they feel that there are earnest souls who wish to be sincerely kind. Many are willing to stop and tell us their difficulties, some we will wish to see in the courts next day.

But in all our going about, morning, noon or night, we will have to admit our surprise that notwithstanding the many individual instances of wrecked lives who are influencing downward too many others, there is not a street in all London where we would not feel as safe as in the very best business streets of Chicago or New York. There are no dens of continuous growing infamy. Workers in all organizations are on the hunt for them. Police officials are alert and take the initiative in many instances; if a plant of this noxious kind is set out, it is uprooted before it has much chance for spreading its influence. Business men say, "We will not have them, no toleration is given, when known; there are no houses of prost.i.tution, known as such for longer than till they can be taken before the courts."

The strenuous efforts of the organizations mentioned heretofore have been directed so long toward these things through preventive plans and legislation and wholesome law-enforcement that there is no longer any doubt concerning the wish of the people or their representatives in official places.

Since the reign of toleration of vice was broken by the strong word of government in 1886, there has been a winning battle, which though still on, has brought so much of victory that we can believe that completeness of triumph will dawn, and at just about the time that England shakes itself from the related enslaving chains of intemperance and the obstinate industrial system.

CHAPTER x.x.xIII.

FOR G.o.d'S SAKE DO SOMETHING.

The testimony already given in these pages leaves no room to doubt the existence of a widespread, hideous commerce in girls. In conclusion, as a sort of judicial summing up of the case against the most odious criminals of the world, we quote Judge John R. Newcomer of Chicago, who says:

"Within one week I had seven different letters from fathers, from Madison, Wisconsin, on the north, to Peoria, Illinois, on the south, asking me in G.o.d's name to do something to help them find their daughters, because they had come to Chicago and they had never heard from them afterwards.

"If you mean by the White Slave Traffic the placing of young girls in a brothel for a price, it most undoubtedly is a real fact, based upon statements that have been made in my court during the past three months by defendants, both men and women, who have pleaded guilty to that crime, and in a sense it is both interstate and international.

"Not one, but many s.h.i.+pments, of which I have personal knowledge based upon testimony of people who have pleaded guilty, many s.h.i.+pments come from Paris and other European cities to New York; and from New York to Chicago and other western points; and from Chicago as a distributing point to the West and the Southwest; and on the western coast, coming in to San Francisco and other ports there. Yes, it is a real fact; and it is something that we have got to take notice of, and something that, while it may have been developed largely during the last ten years, the national government itself has recently taken notice of its existence.

"There are three specific cla.s.ses of what we might call white slave traders. First, the man or woman who conducts the brothel; and if I had more time I would like to tell you something about the ways and means used by these people to keep at least a large number of their girls there. Second, the man who acts as a sort of broker, dealing in girls, transferring them from one brothel to another. The third cla.s.s is the lowest of all--those men and women, largely women, who make a business of procuring girls for the brothel. These three cla.s.ses make a living off that traffic and the profit therefrom."

Bishop Anderson of the Episcopal diocese of Chicago says: "The mind of the public is moral, and if it can be convinced of the actual state of affairs the public conscience will soon be aroused and something good is bound to be accomplished. Accurate and conservative information, if spread broadcast, will go far to accomplish the great work which we have in hand."

St. Paul had a like confidence in the public intelligence and conscience, and in the usefulness of information spread broadcast to end the White Slave Traffic. The apostle wrote on this subject in 2 Timothy, 3:6-9: "For of these are they that creep into houses and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers l.u.s.ts, ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these men also resist the truth, men of corrupt mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be known unto all men, as theirs also came to be." St. Paul here intimates that publicity will overthrow the traffickers in women as the opponents of Moses were overwhelmed in Egypt.

In this confidence we are sending forth this volume, to spread broadcast the testimony of many witnesses, whose character and intelligence none can impeach. We are certain that if the facts set forth in this book by lawyers, physicians, missionaries and other workers are understood by the English-speaking peoples the White Slave Traffic will be immediately and permanently reduced and speedily abolished throughout the Anglo-Saxon world. All Christendom must follow if we lead worthily in this reform. j.a.pan will quickly join us and is already doing so. Human nature itself, once it is enlightened as to the facts of commerce in girls, must almost necessarily abolish the cursed trade.

Surely every one whose own mind is not debauched will take some part in this most essential and inevitable reform. As General Booth of the Salvation Army said so many times, on one of his tours in this country and around the world a dozen years ago:

"FOR G.o.d'S SAKE DO SOMETHING. IT WILL COST YOU TIME, IT WILL COST YOU MONEY, IT MAY COST YOU REPUTATION, BUT FOR G.o.d'S SAKE DO SOMETHING."

About the year 1877 an excursion steamer, the "Princess Alice," was sunk by another s.h.i.+p in the Thames, near London, and six or seven hundred happy excursionists were drowned in a few minutes. At the inquest, as is told, a gentleman asked permission to testify, as he was an eye-witness of the disaster. He told what he saw and said that he was most impressed by a young mother, who held her baby as high as her hands could reach, as she sank and rose again and again, hoping that some one would rescue the child--but in vain. The judge asked the witness, "What did you do for those sinking hundreds, and for that peris.h.i.+ng mother and baby?" The man answered, "I--I--I did nothing." The judge replied, "You saw all that, and did nothing--nothing?"--and they hissed him from the court room.

The great Judge will hold an inquest on the thousands who are engulfed every month in the black waters of the vice markets of our great cities.

Shall He wither us with His wrath as we answer, "Nothing," or shall He say as He said of one long ago,