The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-05-10
One of the Fallen.

Belle Clifford. one uf the leading mem
bers Of the j,m, a,o,,.i., Of II. Louis. writes
this Bona ~, episte ru TL- b-nogrt of
that city
" see in your sunday edition an
account uf the action ut a meeting which
took place saturday afternoon, for the pur-
pose u agitating the repeal VI the social
evil ordinance After carefully reading
the various letters, speeches, ami rcsolu-
tions, the first impression on uy mind was
that these good ladies and gentlemen know
a good deal more about the theoretical and
possibly moral than they ala W the actual
effect Of this ordinance upon the women for
whose benefit they are 80 anxious. There
is a very perceptlhle Inconsistency in their
opinions while one prays for our deliver
anCe, the other seems disposed TO pat us
in penltentIary "a accomplish the same
end. VIZ our reformation. also notice
that our one excellent gentleman thinks
that the female suffrage T. the panacea for
this glarIng outrageous evil. Had these
good people taken the trouble tu examine
the state of affairs m other cities, they
would have found much more fruitful fields
for their laburs than m 1T. Louis. | have
seen more ~ this thing than any VI these
phllanthroplsts and ! will tell them that
women Of the town Who i've Ia st. Louis
are better behaved and more cIrcunspect
than those " any city IN the country but
this has only been the case since the pas
sage of that much-abused ordinance.
have an intimate knowledge of the work
ngs of tins system. and where | have seen
new women turning out every week prevl-
ous ~ the passage uf this ordinance, since
II has been IN force | have had but one
woman who came "a my house ami regis
tered from there as a beginner III a life ut
shame. cur people are mistaken III their
mission. They give "a a greal deal of sym
pathy, tut they leave alone the innocent
and poor girls who work like slaves for a
mere pIttance with nu hope VI change
except IN marriage or a life Vt shame
They wait until the sln is cOIumltted and
then apply the remedy They ought to
look after the poor young working girls
from whom our ranks are filled. | have
seen many good people un a cold winter
day. mutiled up IN furs and warm coats
pushing aside poor miserable little fifteen
year Old creature returning from the shop
half clothed. and With nothing from break
fast e. supper but a cold smack which she
carries with her each day There l. httle
0r no sulicltude manifested for these poor
girls Who are trying u keep from life of
SIN.
Yet few dollars weekly, ~ some "
the money spent 10 grand churches, paying
chOIrs to do fashionable singing, giving
ministers houses and services ot plate, etc.
If put out a. A fund At interest, would save
many poor girls from seeking a life VI tins
kind Ladies and .rntlem Ell, remove tile
cause 20 to the foundation AZ not com
mencc In the middle Let Us See more "
you IA the novels II the poor, and anchor
ating the condition nf these poor girls. who
toll from . A. NJ until 6 r. NJ for IS Co -
per week. cothe and feed themselves
SHOW your sincerity by your works then
We "Ill have more faith Ia your assistiu.
Us when We give up the life BY which W.
earn our daily bread, and depend on your
putting ms In way To- earn respectable
living BELLE CLIFFoRp"