The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-22

ment. of the cadet and of the .deten- ton of girls for debts" Each Gov ernor. has been requested to telegraph his answer indicating whether simi- lar bills cannot be enacted in his State~to supply the lack of State law,
 The committee which has this active campaign in hand includes Assistant United states District Attorney Par kin. who personally conducted the Federal raids which resulted in the discovery of systematic. interna- tionai trafic in girls. who were both imported and exported and sold. The committee also includes Assistant States Attorney Clifford G. Roe. who has prosecuted some 2b0 white slave cAses'~ and shas been active in the work of the Illinois Vigilance Assocaa- ton. Representative Charles Lederer. who introduced the Illinois bills. Ern- est A Bell, Secretary of. the Illinois Vigilance Association; Henry P. Hei- ger. a law partner or Speaker ShurtieI of the Illinois House. and Forrest Crissey. advisory editor of The Wo- mans World
 Uncle Sam's hands being tied so far as girls of American homes were con- cerned, Assistant United States Dis trict Attorney ,Parkin issued a warn ing. in an article published in The woman's world that parents must look to State laws for protection. All the facts available regarding State laws and the appalling facts of n every-dy. trafiic in girls procured chiefly in rural districts. were put into the hands of this committee. The com- mittee had assurances of the support of The woman's World and financial aid from its published. George H. Cur rier, often called The American Harmsworth." using the power of his enormous circulation in various pub lie movements. Headquarters were es- tablisned., an advisory committee chosen, including Arthur -Burrages Far well of the Chicago Law and Order League. James Bronson Reynolds. Sec retary of the National Vigilance Asso- citation, J. G. Shearer. Toronto. Secre- tary of the Moral and Reform Council of Canada; Robert B. Armstrong. ffor- mer Assistant Secretary of. the Treas ury, and the committee took up de- termined work Lack of organization had left American girls the prey, to the number of 100000 a.. year. Of the procurer and the cadet. To Governors of all States, a letter asking for teie- graphic reply at the, expense Of tne committee. was sent, the text, of which was ab follows: @ That there Is a systematic trafic in girls of American homes--a hunt. saie and, ruin of our girls--has been es- abolished by Federal prosecutors Tn enforcing Federal laws which apply to alien girls. by State prosecutors and rescue workers. It is beyond question a fact-a menace to all. American homes, for the traffic is ruthless. in- sidious and national--even interna- tional. Approximately 100000 girls per year are recruited. more from rural | than urban homes. .t,.
 "what is to be done, Is the next phase. Laws aimed at the detention of girls under pretense of debts. the white slavery" and at cadets. or whom there are 5000 in Chicago living on earnings of their prey--American n girls-are recommended as the most imperative needs. Is there adequate law or punishment in your State? We en- close copies of bills. having the highest endorsement. which probably will De enacted in Illinois. We ask yousst to consider them. Cannot you have them put on your statute books If you ma your state Is unprotected. as most States are? Can it be done at this session of your Legislature7
 "Delays cost Is0 daughters per day. Please telegraph your. reply-at our expense. views will be much appreciated by this | committee