The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-23
Grne Nortberner.
Paw Paw, MIcHloAS, MARCH %, 1877.

Hon. Henry w. Lord, OF Pontiac, writes as
follows to the Detroit Free Press.
notice by recent issue, under the head OF
q 4 Social Problem" reporting the proceedings
of a meeting called TO promote Tho best in
dustrial and moral interests OF women. one OF
tue speakers said in substance that man, be-
fore an audience OF men, may confess to de-
graded, debsuched and incorporate life. and
tue statement, il accompanied with professed
resolution 10 reform, would be received with
applause. How many OF your ladies' would
applaud woman who should make similar
statement?"
This very forcibly puts the case The erring
vomen ind their severest censors in those OF
their own sex. This is probably in accordance
with public policy, and is certainly In accord
ance with practice. IL is also probably true
that the judgment OF men, by men, in this re-
spect, may be too indulgent. and that OF wo-
men, by women, too severe.
The state OF Michigan has no prison. reform
atory or school for erring and fallen women
and girls. No asylum, no home, no refuge. A
Seform School Tor boys at Lansing provides
for say $50, who are sent there on criminal
process, the smallest offense giving eligibility
60 access there being larceny to the amount OF
S5. This $50 probably does not include more
than one half the boys that are eligible. II
there are, therefore, 500 bad boys ia the State
emanatng from families OF deficient moral
training, oil none at all children who have no
parents, manv Of them, and many OF them hav-
ing parents worse than none at all il is safe to
presume that from the same families and the
same influences emanate an equal namber OF
bad girls.
This is not ALL nor the worst. OF these five
hundred bad boys, between the ages OF twelve
and sixteen, the first offense cognzable by the
courts will be larceny IN seventy five cases out
OF the hundred.
Of the five hundred bad girls, there will not
he 80 large number that will commit crimes
at all, but Of those that do, the first offenee
Will be prostitution in about the same number
Of cases in each hundred.
On this class Of girls the State, composed
81 men and women, turns it's back, abso-
lutelv.
Officers OF the law arrest them with reluc-
lance, il at all, and the magistrates and police
justices throughout the State feel embarrassed
when young girls are brought before them.
The justice OF the peace, at his wits end to
know what to do-a mere child often, before
him, with no place within the State to which he
tnay send her. In most instances. being deeply
moved by compassion, he generally discharges
the girl admonishes her kindly, and endeavors
10 persuade her relatives or friends, n she has
any, 10 more carefully watch over her IN the
future.
The probability strongly Is. that within few
weeks she will appear IN court again an go thro'
a continued series OF arrests and discharges
the case becoming more ana more nagrant as
the girl grows older, until finally she is sent
from some distant county, perhaps, TO the De-
troit House of Correction, the only prison for
women and girls in the State, and that only
prison for men with department for women
D very bad thing in itself-and. moreover, 1t is
a prison in which the State OF Michigan has no
interest except kind OF tenancy at Will, and
over which it has no control except IN that gen.
oral sense in winch 1t has control over every
thing within Its territory.
Thus 1t is the policy, or, If 1t be not the poi
icy il s the practice OF the state. to keep stloat
upon the surface, or beneath the surface OF 30
Getty, almost the whole number OF bad grls
that live within its borders, while 1t does Try.
and with promising degree OF sucbess, TO res
cue the boys.
The influence of sex in education has entered
into popular discussion.
The influence OF sex IN crime, and crime in
nez. may well engage the attention OF the Leg
islat1lre now in session, IN d State that has
heretofore ignored the whole subject.