Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-05
A Worthy Citizen.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. as foreman of
| vestigating the so-called white slave
| traffic. which is worthy of attention.
1T is not enough that we would await
| federal action or seek new legislation.
| We must look to the law as it is now"
| said the justice. THE existing law is
| adequate to punish specific offences.
| The main object which I desire you to
keep in mind is the uncovering, not
| alone of isolated offences, but of an
| organization, if any such exists, for a
| traffic in the bodies of women. The
/ laws machinery is at your command.
| The wealth of this opulent city is at
your CALL The sympathy and senti
ment Of it's law-abiding citizens are
with you. Your inquiry should not be
satisfied by any halfway answer. If
such traffic does not exist, your in
quiry should end forever the sensa-
tional ISLANDERS against the city Of New
York"
This call to action delivered to man
| who has larger property interests than
| the most of US is significant of the
! feeling which pervades the law abiding
elements of New York at the present
time. To accuse a city OF permitting
| the business which has lately been dcs-
| ignated the white slave traffic" is to
bring serious charge, not only
against it's officers, it's police depart
ment and its judiciary, but it also re-
fleets upon the character of the citi-
zens OF that city to a greater degree
than the accusers appear to realize.
Any organization for the promotion of
vice is hard to destroy. This is espec-
tally true in large cities. Added to
the routine duties of police depart
ment, which is none too large to pro-
tect citizens from the more violent
criminals, the stamping out of SO eX-
| tensive an organization as that with
| which the white slave traffic is accred-
| lLcu DtcOilltS d SlupcIlUouo loon.
Public sentiment demands that
measures be taken to ascertain
whether or not the assertions
concerning the white slave traffic
which have lately been given
wide publicity, are true, and if true,
that some definite action be taken.
This demand has been diverted from
municipal and city channels to the
federal government and has been ac-
companied by request for new fed
eral legislation adequate to meet the
situation. The discussion of this prop !
osition and the enactment of new
law touching upon it will take months,
at least. On this account Judge OSul-
Ivan said, 1--WE must look to the law as
it is now. The existing law is ade-
ouate to punish specific offences" He
then puts the main object before the
grand jury in language which cannot
be misunderstood. stating that it is the
empowering not alone of isolated Of
fences, but of an organization, If any
such exist. for traffic in the bodies of
women
This charge delivered to an ordinary
Jury would be worthy of notice. but de-
livered to a grand jury headed by such
a man as John d. Rockefeller. Jr., II be-
comes doubly important The accident
of birth gave John d. Rockefeller, Jr.
an opportunity to accept grave re-
snonsibilities in the affairs Of one OF
the greatest business organizations IN
the world. He has grasped the oppor-
tunity and shown himself to be Wor-
tbv son of John d. Rockefeller, Sr.
That means that he has q wonderful
grasp of detail as well as the ability
10 conduct large business affairs sue
cessfulIy. 1t is rarely that such men
car be induced to take up the work OF
investigating criminal matters. 1t Is
matter of record that Mr.. Rockefeller
begged to be excused. but upon being
assured that the judge believed it to
he his duty to perform the work as
signed to him he promptly Withdrew
his plea and stood ready to do what
ever might be expected of him. Judge
O'Sullivan's address to the grand jury
is worthy of the occasion. Mr. Rookie
feller's acceptance marks the begin
ming of a new era of broader concep-
ton of the responsibilities of citizen
shin as related to men of large bust |
ness activities.