The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-10
Judge Feagin's Plan VIII In
clude Women Migrants
TO HELP THE ABANDONED
Judge VIII Endeavor to Secure Homes
In County for Women of Question
able Character Who Would
Laed Better Lives.

/ placing the hayward boys specially the
negro boys. on probation. that Judge
N. B. Feagin has determined to start
somewhat similar system with the wom-
en- Migrants of the city. His efforts will
be confined at first chiefly to the white
women who walk the streets and IL Il is
successful he will enlarge the scope of
his operations.
Judge Feagin commenced his new plan
yesterday, and there were several wom-
en- in court. When asked what they would
rather do, pay fine, or be placed on pro-
baton and leave the city the next time
they were arrested. they we're unanimous
in their expressions of desiring to be
placed on probation and wanting to lead
better lives.
The same plan will be used with these
women that has worked successfully
with the boys. Homes will be sought for
them in the country and they will be
sent where they will have healthy sur
roundings and everything conducive to
leading right life.
Probation officers will be chosen. Judge
Feagin has asked Miss r. L. Bowman
and Miss Ella Eapp. missionaries among
the negroes from the Southside Baptist
church, and also the women Of the Sal
| walton army to assist him in this move
ment, and to some extent act as proba-
ton inspectors. He has also asked Miss
Bowman and Miss Napp to name several
responsible negro women to act as pro-
baton officers for the negro women.
The Plan.
The plan will be simply to place a wo-
man on probation the first time she Is
arrested, secure her home IN the coun-
try If possible where she will be away
from the temptations of city life, and If
she is again arrested place her in jail for
one year. The following statistics taken
from the court docket snow the success
of the plan with the boys:
The probation plan was started De-
cember %.
Number of arrests in December, 1903, 90.
Number of arrests in January, 1904, 40.
Numberof arrests In February, 1904. %.
Number of arrests in March, 1904. 10.
Number OF arrests in April, 1904, O.
This shows a decrease in the number
of boys arrested of about so per cent
sent to the country and ran away Three
came back to Birmingham and two others
Wee placed in Jail at Tuscaloosa for Of
| fenses committed there. The remaining
four have never been heard of since they
ran away. One has been sent to the street
| gang for a year.
Judge Feagin, who is considered one of
the best informed men in the United
States on the reform question, and who
has attracted the attention of people In
| terested in reform all over the country,
yesterday afternoon outlined the work In
this country. the causes and effects. as
follows:
Histories of fallen women show that
they are victims of their unfortunate sur
roundlngs, or environments. They also
show that large per cent of the women
who go wrong would abandon their meth
DDS OF life IL given the opportunity, the
encouragement and the helping hand of
good people.
"Those in court today preferred to be
rut on probation than to pay a fine. They
stated that IL they had good homes they
would lead better life, that they led
bad lives because of their evil environ
ments and education Statistics show that
n any women go wrong In hard times. but
when the country Is prosperous they re-
form and quit their evil ways. They adopt
this mode of rfe when 1t is difficult to
get employment
Country Homes Wanted.
1T want homes in the country for these
women Just as 1 did for the boys 1 want
| farm homes where the women can live
"a healthy life. get plenty Of pure food
and fresh air.
IF there is any class Of people in tho
world who deserve encouragement to re-
form II is this class above all others. The
fewer there are of them In the gutter the
fewer will be pulled down to their level
I'm this age of cooperation for the
suppression of social evil, what greater
| good can be performed by the philan-
thropist and those who have the love for
| the unfortunte at heart than to give
| them an uplift, to better their condition
and give them a trial by which they can
show that they will take the opportunity
| given them.
.'This movement is deserving of an
| honest effort from the good women of Biz
| mingham, and every minister and good
Christian in the city should lend their
aid. II they will do this, the city will
| no longer be known as bad Birming-
| ham" but as good Birmingham"
1.-THE home in the country Is the bull
wark of the virtues which sustain the
splendid institutions which have made
our republic possible, prosperous and
perpetual.
Committee Recommendation.
Some time ago a committe of fifteen
of the greatest thinkers and philanthropy
lists of New York was appointed to inves-
tigate and report on the social evil They
visited Europe and all parts OF America
and made a careful study OF the situa-
| ton, and then made suggestions which
would tend to check the evil. Their re-
| Communications are as follows:
"First-Better housing for the poor.
In Birmingham these women live most
| ly in the slums.
"Second-Purer forms OF amusement.
Here these women find their amusement
in the dance halls and wine rooms. and
| low dens.
"Third-Raising conditions Of labor, es-
| pecially female labor, the purpose and
| object being to give them more money
| with which to live, and purer environ
ments in which to work.
.Fourth-Better moral education By
this the committee means to have places
where the women can find music, liter
| AZURE and higher forms Of amusement DUR
ing the hours of recreation.
aFifth--Minors shall be more and more
Il he n1I1fNhnd