The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-08

There wasn't a large audience at
the operahouse last night to hear Cliff
ford G. Roe of Chicago on the White
Slave Traffic, but what it lacked in
numbersHt made up in enthusiasm and
effectiveness.
Before the lecture began Miss Flaten
rendered several solos that were very
much enjoyed and the operahouse
orchestra rendered several selections
that were greatly appreciated. DR.. c.
c. Greegan of Fargo college, intro
duced the speaker in a few we'll chosen
remarks, in which he said he was heart
and soul with Mr.. Roe in his work.
Mr.. Roe for three or more years
has been prosecuting the white slavers
OF Chicago and has been successful in
convicting 300 Of them, who are serv-
ing or have served terms in the pen
itentiary Of Illinois.
In opening his address Mr.. Roe
said he didn't want to be classed as
a reformer from inclination, but the
work was there for him to do and he
did 1t because he could not refuse and
he would not have been a man had
he refused to take the cases that came
before him into court
He told of the 800 cases that he
had prosecuted and said that there
were three bats that the panderer
threw out to young girls. One was
love, the other vanity and the third
ambition, and he gave illustrations of
how each was pushed forward and in
the end lead TO the enslavement of
the girls.
mot all of the women are slaves at
the outset" said he, for many at first
think they will for time draw aside
the curtains that hide sin, but find
too late that they cannot escape In
many cases they are slaves at the be-
ginning and cannot escape if they
would.
He read from the records of the
courts Of instances where innocent
country girls had been lured to Chi
cago and the same day they reached
there had been thrust into brothels
and kept there as prisoners, and he
told Of how by reason of the prose-
cutions, supply OF girls had been cut off
and many of the places were compelled
to close. It was then that he said
he did not believe in segregation of
such houses as was done in Fargo in
the hollow. Il know of MANY cases"
said he, 'of girls who have been
brought right into Fargo by the white
slavers. know of North Dakota girls
who have been taken away to other
places, and there is even now a case
in Canada of the kind. Cut off the
supply for such places and they will
have to, from necessity, close.
North Dakota has no law what
ever bearing on this subject, but il
should have and am going to see the
governor Of the state on Thursday on
the subject and will do my best to
get an opportunity to talk to the state
legislature on this great question. I
believe that the punishment should
be from one year to life, and if few
panderers were sent to the penitentiary
for life it would have a wholesome
effect on others who might be think
ing OF going into the nefarious buzz
ness. Chicago, once known as the
most immoral city OF the United States
is now one of the most decent"
Then he spoke of the economic side
of the question, and said that fourteen
young girls had been procured in Chi
cago and shipped to Beaumont, Tex,
under the pretense that they were to
be chorus girls in a theatrical com
pany, and the procurer in his confess
sion told how easy it was done. He
said that the stage struck girls were
the easiest to get.
Mr.. Roe is a forceful speaker, but
he does not depend upon oratory and
eloquence to hold the attention of
his hearers, for he has the facts to back
him up. The lecture was most in
teresting and 1t is believed that it did
great deal of good.