Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-11


an International system of traffic in,
and the enforced and the voluntary
degradation of men and women, con-
tanned in the report on the so-calied
white slave trade" submitted to Con-
gress today by the United States I'M
migration Commission. Sticking as IL
the account of voluntary shame given
in the report, immensely more so Is the
setting forth OF well attested facts as
to the compulsory consignment Of in
nocent immigrant girls to the life of
the bawd.
Much of the subject matter Of to-
days report was covered by the COM
mission in it's 1400-page preliminary re-
port published and widely discussed
year ago. Today's report is briefer,
containing but 60 pages, and large
part of it is unsuitable for newspaper
publication.
When the report was presented In
the House of Representatives To-Day
by Congressman Bennett of New York.
Champ Clark, the minority leader. OBJ
jccted to its being printed as a House
document, but afterwards withdrew
his objection. It was promptly renewed
by Mr.. SABBATH of Illinois. Mr.. Fitzger-
aid Of New York wanted to know II
the report contained sensational mat
ter like that which he implied was con-
tanned in the report of the Roosevelt
Homes Commission, upon which Ben
net evoked laughter by the tart reply:
CAN matter calculated to appeal to
impure minds has been eliminated
MI rrysft n
ton explaining the nature and termi-
nology of the white slave" traffic.
and concludes with summary of the
effects, moral and physical, especially
upon the victims, and series of rec
mostly of an admins
trative character.
The commission says that the effect
of the importation of immoral women
into this country is one of increased
degradation and death for the women
and of contamination and corruption
bv means of the spread of disease. for
those with whom they come in contact.
"The economic loss, coming from the
shortening of life and from the expen-
diture of the large sums of money IN
all the multifarious ways of vice. and
which is mere waste from every point
of view is great" says the report. 1T
is unnecessary to comment on the ruin
GUS influences of prostitution upon do
nestle and social life or on its horri-
BILE effects which come alike to the
guilty and the Innocent The COM
mission says that the immoral traffic is
not confined entirely to women. but
ait is clear that there is a beginning
at any rate of traffic in men and
boys for Immoral purposes. F
1.-The need of checking this importa-
ton is especially great" continues the
report. "The vilest practices are
brought here from Continental Europe
and beyond doubt there has come from
imported women and their men the
most bestiaI refinements of depravity.'
The diseases generated and spread by
these importations, says the commits
sion's report, should be guarded
against "even more than tuberculosis,
typhoid or any of the other infectious
diseases" ~
The commission in describing the
manner of the Investigations recounts
the experiences Of many of its agents.
In come cases. they were attacked and
beaten and actual murder was mar
rowly averted.
Financial profit is the basic motive
for the traffic; but of the women and
girls abroad. induced by various meth
DDS into the net of the procurers. many
human attributes operate to accom-
plish their destruction. Sometimes it
is merely a desire for financial i'm
provement. Again, it may be an affec-
ton for the male procurer. sedulously
cultivated by the man. Many of the
girls are innocent and ignorant. but
far greater number. it is declared, are
not of that inexperienced class and
&C me largely of their own accord.
No statistics are given in the report.
though the extent of the white slave
traffic. is characterized as country
wide. Most of the women, 1t is said,
come by way of New York. San Fran
cisco and Seattle, although many are
coming lately by way of Canada. Ere.
quently they are brought into the
United States disguised as wives or
sisters OF their procurers and so pass
the immigration officials. '
The exploitation of these women af-
ter their arrival in the United States
is characterized in the report as most
pitiful for the women and most brutal
on the part of tho men," Not only the
innocent and betrayed young girls but
the more experienced women are made
the victims of virtual slavery.
The importaticns come from all
countries. France leads and the
Chinese and Japanese make up the
majority of those coming in by way
of the Pacific coast. Most of the pro-
curers are of foreign birth The "mar>
ket'' price varies from 5000 to $1,000 for
each alien woman. Sometimes they are
not sold outright, but their procurers
continue to live from their earnings
after their arrival here. r.
The commission recommends chiefly
that efforts be made through govern
ment agents abroad and on board
steamers TO prevent the importation
of women to this country: that more
assiduous efforts be made in the
United States to arrest women known
to DE engaged in immoral practices,
and to deport all possible; that the
limit of three years after landing with
in which such persons may be success
fully prosecuted, be removed; that
any deported persons returning to this
be imprisoneyf: that the keen.