The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-11-23
AUTHORITIES ARE UTTERLY UNABLE TO PREVENT LEwo
WOMEN FROM PLYING THEIR NgFARoUs PRACTICES
ABOVE PIKE STREET

First and Western avenues. for
several blocks above Pike street.
are fast becoming the resort Of
women and men who should be
driven below the dead line. Certain
streets and alleys between these
two avenues have become the abode
OF fallen women. who lead lives Of
shane in open defiance % the laN.
Street soliciting IS more frequent
in this district than In any ether
part Of the city
The police have been very strict
In other sections % the city 70 pre-
vent women OF questionable char
acter from plying their trade after
dark. but in this district the police
seem 10 b unable TO do anything
70 prevent the nightly encroaeh-
ments upon the Law. The women
are SO watehful that policemen are
unable 20 set the evidence against
them. but citizens are frequently
aEcosted ~ night proWlefs and in.
vited 20 visit neighbortnE saloons
or lodging houses Of shady char
acter
Many lodging houses on First
avenue above Pike street. on West.
ern avenue. Virginia street and the
alleys between them. depend 20 =
large extent for their existence
upon theaz parasites. The police
admit that the practice q nightly
followed. but they are unable 70 do
anything owing 90 the inability TO
get sufficient evidence. When a
uniformed officer appears the won
en- flee 20 cover.
There Is a broad hint that a sya-
TEN OF protection Is In force where
BY these women are permitted to
carry on their practices without III
reference. This Is denied By the
police. who assert that they VII
put several places out Of business If
sufficient evidence can b. secured
10 insure conviction.
Saloons in this district are con
tinuallv visited and almost inhah-
tied by women Of the lowest type
Midnight caruusals are repeatedly
INDUCED In and the women have
learned 70 have no fear Of the laW.
Girls under the age o. d are per
AAAaNAFa# VI #HHEA aAAtHE hAsAHsa a. HAaaHH
and the propr.etors are satisfied -
long az they can reap a little profit
from the sales Of liquors to the
young girls and their escorfs
A personal Investigation By mem
bers Of The Star force proved more
startling than was az first thought
There was no difficulty found In
securing audiences and dates" with
girls on the street A. least a half
dozen girls were seen on the street
al one time who we're there for no
other purpose than 20 secure a male
companion
- Further investigation OF several
houses In the district showed that
they were Of no better character
than any to be found on King
street Some 0f these houses were
alive with women who we're leading
lives OF prostitution and the pro
prietors Of these houses we're we'll
aware Of the condition.
Some Of them have learned that
plain clothes officers have been at
work IN the district. and they are
little cautious ~ first. but the coat
ing Of caution is very thin. After
a little liquid diet there Is no trou-
bic In finding out just what infor-
nation IS desired
The saloons In the nelghbofh00d
are all provided with names and
addresses Of women. a bartender
can give a "tenderfoOt' more infor-
nation about the houses IN the
neizhborhood than King street
habitue Many Of the propriefor8
OF saloons reap a good profit from
the drinks supplied these houses
and they will not give out any In
formation 70 benefit an officer. one
place visited last night housed a
score Of leWd women. Men and
women we're entering and leaving
the place In a steady stream The
"landlady" admitted that she Was a
sport" and desired plenty Of com