Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-24
Editorial Comment.
Studies Of tho Social Evil.
(Springfield, (Mass.) Republica

especially has Ii been left TOO exclusively
to men to regulate. One of the best re-
suits of woman suffrage, probably would
be a municipal policy. In dealing with
this evil, nodded much more than at
present by the point of view of good Wo-
men and by the interests of their sex. IL
was, evidently, with an appreciation OF
considerations such as these that the
committee OF IA for the suppression OF
Raines law hotels in New York city APP
pointed three women and but one man to
the special committee charged with a
fresh investigation Of law enforcement
in connection with prostitution. This re-
search committee. consisting Of Mrs. w
H. Baldwin, Jr., chairman. Miss Frances
A. Kellor. secretary, Mrs. V. G. Simkho-
witch and Prof. Francis M. Burdick, has
presented an elaborate report which
bears all the marks of the most painstak
ing and exhaustive inquiry into New
York conditions. AS Survey Of the
social evil it merits the attention of peo
pie in other communities, since the gen.
eral problem of commercialized vice is
much the same in one city as in another.
The investigation was not designed pri-
marily to ascertain the extent or the
causes of the social evil, which were COW
cred in the report of the committee of Is,
in 1902. it has been confined to the study
of the laws and their enforcement. Yet
field study of actual conditions has
been found necessary to determine some
thing of the effectiveness of each law. In
this way, the research committee has
been led to conclusions, valuable in them
selves. concerning the organized nature
of prostitution in a city like New York
These are fundamental in their bearing
upon the question of legislation and mu.
nicipal policy, since it is important to
know. if possible, the exact relation be-
tween the system of prostitution as it
now exists and the unregular sexual
emotonalism of human nature One
notes. therefore, with interest the follow
ing conclusion
The analysis of the laws, which is fully
substantiated by the prevailing condi-
tons under these laws, shows that pros
titntion is no longer the simple process of
a man seeking a woman in a place kept
for such a purpose, or that only men who
are looking for such places. or women
who wish to live in them, are to be found
based on this belief, which is totally err
roneous. This form of prostitution exists
merely as the center of an elaborate sys-
tenn which has been fostered by business
interests rather then as consequence of
emotional demand. The laws show clear
ly the existing complicated order of COM
mercialized vice.
The disorderly house the recognized in
stitution of the social evil, occupies a
very small place. The tenement house,
with its cloak of responsibility and pro-
lection of other tenants by the ianitor
and real estate agent: the "Raines Law
hotel, with its additional temptation of
liquor; the dance hall, with it's attraction
of amusement: the massage parlor, with
its allurement of the care of the body
these increase the dangers of a hundred
fold and vastly increase the stimulation
because of the multiplied interests which
must have their share of the proceeds.
The supply of women for prostitution
does not come as largely as is commonly
thought from the ranks of those willing
or seeking to enter this life. Were this
the cadet" procurer and protector who
iS'u "oiiith dotidy loI ScuuCtlOH, 1dlSe
marriages. drugs, pleasure halls, drink,
and force to be used to entice them into
this life: and compulsory prostitution,
division of fees, cost of living, and of
protection would not be used to keep
them in such state oEsubiection. Then
the midwife and physician and drug
gist also stand ready to avert the conse-
quenees of the life of shame
1t is no longer the woman who receives
the lions share of the proceeds. For
whom must she earn money? There is
extra rent to be paid for protection.
which goes to the agent or owner: fees
to the Janitor and presents to his chill
dren for services or to avoid complaints;
extra high prices for clothes and necessi-
ties. part of which goes to the middle
man. where women are inmates in
houses: commissions for the keeper, and
cadet or PROTECTOR police protection
money and bail money if arrested. The
prostitute, if she succeeds in getting her
patron to buy drinks, earns a profit for the
brewer: if she uses "Raines law hotel
she divides rental with the proprietor:
and if she frequents a dance hall, she
pays her way. She also earns money for
service, for these are used extensively
by her at night. The amount she earns
must cover most of these items, or she
cannot be a successful prostitute in New
York city. and it is with the knowledge
If not the direct cOnnivance of these va
rious business interests that she conducts
her business.
There are. in short, no less than 19I
classes of middlemen who share in the
business profits of vice. This vast finan-
cial interest in the social evil forms a
powerful protection for it and as we'll an
interested promoter of its more extended
development Women are not only forced
into prostitution against their will; but
men, too, are preyed upon by an organ
lied system of vice which seeks to allure
them into the patronage necessary to its
profitable maintenance.
While these facts are not new to STU
dents of the social evil they gain a fresh
significance in connection with the body
of inadequate laws which are ostensibly
framed to control or suppress it, 1t is
an appalling outrage upon society that a
vice bad enough in it's effects when re-