The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-21
EASY Is The DESCENT
DIR. HELEN BISSELL ADDRESSES
CIVIC LEAGUE ON THE CITY's
TEMPTATIONS
ESPECIALLY TO YOUNG GIRLS
Judge Hine Declares Himself in OPP
position to Mayor Kiefer's Present
Plan of Assessing Women by
Monthly "Fines"-,C Committee Is
Appointed to Inquire Into Local
COnditfOns Il

Appointed to Inquire Into Local
Conditions.
The case Of the DELINQUENT women of
st. Paul-how to ameliorate their condi-
ton, how to start them anew on the right
path, but, most important of all per-
haps, how to prevent young girls from
following in their footsteps-these things
were gravely considered at yesterday S
meeting of the Woman's Civic league,
held in the Commercial club parlors. The
paper read by DR.. Helen w. Bissell and
the discussion which followed it brought
out the fact that present municipal meth
DDS are entirely inadequate to deal with
the problem or to check the evils of
growing crime. Mrs. George B. Young,
in the absence Of the president, Mrs.
Condo Hamlin, presided at yesterday 8
meeting. DR.. Bisselrs paper, entitled
Our Duty to the Delinquent Women of
st. Paul." was as follows:
DIR. BISsELL'S ADDRESS.
With the advance of civilization and
the power of the mind to grasp subjects
in their general relations there come
forward subjects which require solution.
ana however we may wish to avoid them
perststently block our way until they are
studied and treated on the broadest prin-
c1ples and their relations to the entire
human race. Among them, and most in
s1stent, is that Of the treatment OF de-
Hnquent women, and it is in regard to
our duties Of those of ST. Paul that I
wish to speak this afternoon.
Coming from sheltered homes where
those nearest and dearest have protected
us in every way, it is difficult to realize
the temptations and lack Of safeguards
around those less fortunately situated
A drinking. brutal father, using on him
and shrinking, uneducated mother make
OF what saould be a home a desolation
from which the children, boys and girls
alike. take refuge in the streets, as pref
cradle to the only shelter that they know.
1t Is evident In many cases that the
lack OF power on the mothers part to
exact obedience and the ability to care
properly for the home and make the best
use of the money earned, causes great
dissatisfaction and Is of evil tendency
Several months ago there came under
my care at the dispensaTy, partially in
years before, had left her with a little
trade that enabled her to support herself
and four children. She needed rest, and
being asked why her fourteen-year-old
daughter did not give her. more assistance
answered that the girl always stayed in
bed as late as possible lin the morning.
only giving herself time to- eat her break
fast before going Il school, and that she
and evening after her lessons were learn
ed. When I suggested that she was
DOING A GREAT WRONG
to allow her daughter to lead such a life
she shrugged her shoulders in feeble
way and said she could do nothing with
her children
1t is for just such cases that the friendly
visitor and the Bethel meetings are in
valuable. They present new ideas to the
struggling parents, aiding weak minds
and wills to understand their difficulties
and make a successful struggle against
them.
What does the careless and unprotected
girl find upon the street but temptations
and opportunities for evil on every hand,
and from the more favored part of the
community stern condemnation, or at the
best a hesitatingly helpful hand?
l have been surprised to learn how gen.
orally bicycles, presenting in their power
of rapid motion from place to place, and
chances to meet undesirable associates,
are condemned. by. those best able to
judge of the debasing influences of our
city The extreme rudeness and improper
conduct of large party of girls and boys,
apparently under fifteen years of age,
that I saw on Market street after 10 at
night last summer. confirmed the state
ments that had been made by some Of
ficers early that same evening.
Then for young girls there is the constant
example for those over seventeen, who.
being too old to be sent to Red Wing,
fiaunt the police with their inability to
deal with them. and encourage the little
ones to follow in their footsteps.
POLICE ARE HELPLESS.
To show the difficulties encountered by
the officers in their attempts to meet the
situation, I will relate a case that came
under my personal observation. Several
months ago l was requested by Lieut..
Boerner to see what | could do for a Ger
tain young girl on Ssventh street. Going
there with woman Known everywhere
for her ability to meet people of all char
acters, we found "a particularly pretty
ed us politely enough. but with entire in
difference. | was told that her mother,
who pretended to know nothing Of her
manner of life. but had been supported by
her for. two years, was ready to swear
her daughter was over seventeen. which
prevented her being sent to the reform
school. When at last it seemed feasible
to put her under restraint. she married
to escape that possibility.
What does our city do for women ar
rested on either just or unjust charge
Occasionally they are sent to the central
station In a hack but usually in the open
patrol wagon, whether by day or night.
If you wish to see a
BUILDING UTTERLY ADEQUATE
to meet the demands of a great city, en-
ter our small dingyscentral station and go
up stairs to the s:womans department.
There you will find a, room about 20 by 30
feet, with two windows at one end and
four iron cells on one side, Each OF these
contains an iron bunk, that lets down by
chains from the partition making a mar
row bed for one. The cells are dovetailed
in with those of the male prisoners on
the next corridor and while they are
boarded up so that the men and women
cannot actually talk to each other, sounds
are easily heard from one division in the
en- are crowded into this small place, and
a chair that had been battered to pieces
the evening before would give you an idea
of the scenes of violence that are some
times enacted.
TIL police matron comes, when needed
from her rooms in an adjoining building,
but there is no place where she can re-
main all night. So after the prisoners
have quoted down, she returns to her
own apartments, leaving them locked in
and under the general charge of the night
watch. Considering the limited accom-
modations they are very clean and free
from odor. The arrangements at the Jail
are entirely inadequate, and while wait
ing for trial, women are frequently he'd
for weeks in sort of grated pen, quite
away from the windows, which since the
city hall has been built, Is so dark that
even on the brightest days an electric
light is necessary to give them sufficient
light for reading and sewing. Often they
have absolutely nothing to do, and once
when / gave them some sewing to relieve
the monotony found 1t necessary to pro-
vide all the materials for work, even to
needles and thimbles.
The food at the jail. as | have happened
to see it, has always been abundant and
of good quality. The only complaint, that
of being obliged to eat everything with a
spoon or fork. :, consider this Of no
weight, as no oneh would dream of sup
plying prisoners with knives.
The present custom of carrying prison.
ers In the Black Maria is
UTTERLY AND ABSOLUT WRONG.
Men and women are placed there indis-
criminately together. Irp the conveyance
used in summer there is a slight parti-
ton between them. but i have been told
repeatedly that in, winter there is not
even that protection. When it is remem-