The evening times., 1896-01-04
COMMEND the EXPOSE
Prominent People Praise Mss
Wilbur and The Times.
OFFICIALS ARE RETICENT
DR.. Sunderland Says the wOrkhOuse
Visit Equals the Exploits of DR..
Pnrkhurst-Presidc Gregory of
the Civic Center Says 1t Was Right
to Stir UP the People.


IN Washington or elsewhere, have excited
anything like the amount OF favorable COM
ment caused by The Times exposure OF
police court methods and the Distri ct
workhousc.
Miss Wilbur has not only performed 4
public service, but the people have been
heard from in no uncertain tones OF COM
mendatlon OF her pluck and The Times
fcarlcssness. Many prominent citizens
have sent voluntary letters expressing their
admiration OF the papers course, and n
number of others have given their views
in no less uncertain language in personal
interviews.
DR.. Sunderland, pastor of the First Pres
byterian Church. writes as follows:
at was certainly a bold stroke on the
part of Miss Wilbur; in fact, ii seems to
have equaIled any exploit OF the Rev. DR..
Parkhurst, of New York City, in the same
line. As to the ethics OF the stTatagem
in itself considered, l would prefer to
withhold any opinion at present. The
results OF Miss Wilbur's experience are
certainly startling, and if anything like
what she represents at the farm is actually
true, the whole establishment deserves 10
be raZel to the ground.
as that OF an adventures, while each reader
win accord her such measure OF crt d.bility
as suits his own views. Mcanw hilc, what
viii the authorities do about this alleged
horrible condition OF things at the farm"
DIR. GREGORY TALKS.
DR.. John VI. Gregory, president OF the
Civic Center, said:
Il think she was q brave aud courageous
woman. The revelations made Regarding
the police and the courts ought certainly
to awaken public attention. 1t is only n
fresh proof OF tue old truth that eternal
vigilance is the price OF liberty and all else
in society.
II presume that both the police and Off
GERS OF the courts. including the judge. fall
gradually into careless aud unjustifia BILE
courses. just fCr lack of pubic attention.
Miss Wilbur has thoroughly aroused the
public.
at will astonish probably thousands OF
people to learn that Il woman can be ar
rested, tried and convicted without any
sworn testimony and sentenced without any
crime.
THE condition OF things at the work
house is certainly as disgraceful as it is
surprising. But the public ought to take
to itself much of the blaine or allowing
its unfortunate members TO be sui. b.eCted
to an imprisonment which is sure TO make
them still more unfortunate. ana criminals,
even If not criminals before. The men,
bers of the Civic Center Will certainly in
crease their vigilance aud do whatever
they can 10 remedy a couditiCn of things
which is alike a shame to our city and to
our common humanity
AMONG DISTRICT OFFICIALS.
The story of the arrest of Miss Sibyl Will
bur under an assumed name, has been read
by many officials at the District Building
and there is current OF coInmendation.
though, with the usual reserve and caution,
they generally desire not to be quoted.
Supcrintendent of Charities Tracey had
looked over the report critically and was
awaiting with interest further developments.
II e said it would ne ina niiestly premature for
him to say anything until he had the whole
story before him.. s..
Mai. Powell said he had no comment until
the matter might come before him officially.
Make the charges in due FORM he re-
marked, nd we shall see what there is. Z"
Commissioner Ross said he has been too
busy to read the afternoon papers.
Commissioner Truesdelf. unlike Commits
sioncr Theodore Roosevelt of New York, ap-
parently learns of what the policemen under
ms supervision are doing only when the
facts are brought to his attention by some
person making OlIiCitl COintldlHt.
If a policeman becomes involved in debts
that he cannot pay, Commissioner Trues-
dell is likely to dismiss him; for his creditors
have influence and can force him to the
wall. But If policeman insults defense
less woman on the street, because he thinks
she is drunk Commissioner Truesdell will
never hear of it, unless she has powerful
friends.
Mr. Truesdell said lie would probably hear
nothing of Miss WIIbur's arrest except as
itmigit be brought before him by some one.
He knew nothing of it except what he had
just heard.
MRS. LA FETRA COMMENDs.
while we all regret that the knowledge
of such things as Miss Wilbur describes
must be brought to the attention of the pu b.
lic,'' said Mrs. La Fetra, ''yet it at times
becomes necessary, and IL seems that the
subterfuge resorted to In order to gain the
information is wholly offset by the good
that should result from 1t.
Her account of the gantlet run and the
goal reached by one SO unfortunate as to
be arrested and convicted is bright evil
dence that the institution described Is a
degrading instead of a reformatory insti-
tuition.
81 regret the necessity OF a woman's un-
dergoing what Miss Wilbur did, but am
proud and glad that woman is brave
enough to thus come forward for the help
of her fellow beings. 1t shows one thing
conclusively, and that Is that woman should
have an equal right with man In making
the laws and in controlling such institu-
uons."