The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-12
State Department Intends to
Ask Foreign Governments
To Assist in the ''White
Slave" Fight.
IA VIGOROUS PROTEST
ON TREATY VIOLATION
Agents of Department of La
Dor and Commerce Have
Been in Europe Lately COL
Iecting Evidence.

lecting Evidence.
(ey Johnathan WinSield.)
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE white
Slave" traffic. which exists all over
the world. is to be suppressed In the
United States as far as possible and
the state department intends to ask
foreign governments to aid In tho
movement. 1t is believed that bills
to this effect VII, be introduced In tho
next congress.
That the state department viii soon
address identical notes to certain Eu-
ropean governments. with which the
United States has treaties. looking to
the suppression Of the white Slave"
traffic is now believed to be certain.
The notes. though couched In diplo-
matte language. will voice . vigorous
protest at the failure Of these gov
ernments to live up to their treaty
obligations In this respect.
Trade 10 Increasing.
Recent Investigations Of the white
slave" traffic in European countries.
and in several OF the larger cities OF
the United States notably IN New
York has disclosed . deplorable con-
dition OF affairs. Traffic In white
slaves il increasing In this country
rather than -AeminisAing. n supposed.
the increase being due. in part to tho
negligence of foreign governments to
comply with the terms Of treaties with
the United States. These treaties pro-
vide that the signatures would mutu-
ally endeavor to suppress the traffic.
| For several months agents Of the
| department Of commerce and labor.
have been in Europe. and in large
cities of this country. collecting evi-
dence regarding the ramifications oe
the traffic. which will be used to cor
rect the evil conditions In the United
no action.
ceived in Washington from these
agents. nearly every European gov
eminent betrays . careless indiffer-
ence to the traffic. and especially 20
If 1t relates to the shipment Of women
to this country. The agents state that
the traffic would never have grown
to its present appalling proportions
in America, had 1t not been for the
indifference OF immigration officials
at European ports.
Deny the Reports.
European immigration officials. Il
is said in the reports, deny that girls
of immature age are enticed over here
| by the slave dealers: they claim
that the word 'slave" il misused. They
further claim that the women are
aware of the life which they are to
lead.
Il The state department. however. in
in possession of information. which
leads 1t to believe that officials Of tho
European governments. some Of them
at least, are in full sympathy with
the nefarious traffic and wink at II.
II is reported that the police depart
ments of many large continental cit
les encourage the trade as q ready and
quick method OF getting rid OF undesir-
able women Of the slums.
Recent disclosures show that the
traffic Is carried on on 4 gigantic
scale Procurers by hundreds are busy
all the time in Europe. while agents
OF the dealers are actively ut work
over here in disposing OF the women
to American cities.
II Will Be Broken.
This government will finally break
up the white slave" traffic AZ far. as
the trade is connected with other
countries. Officials at the Ellis Is
land immigration station. and other
large ports Of entry. receive from time
to time Information from the bureau
of naturalization and immigration.
which IL is believed will soon reduce
the immense volume Of the trade.
Though officials OF the state depart
are being taken. now to end the buso.
ness it is known that the matter will
soon be the subject Of diplomatic
notes between the United States and
European governments.
Information received here II to the
effect that the headquarters Of the
white slave" trade In located in Brus-
sells, and that. q majority Of tho
women sent here come from Belgium
and France, though . great number
are from the southern countries Of
Europe particularly Italy. The idenfi-
ty Of the "kings of the white slave
traffic" is known to the agents Of the
United States government and those
who reside in the United States win
rN..As-,.~a Il.