Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-14
The Social Evil
 In Connecticut
NEARLY 300 CONVICTIONS DUR.
 ING PAST YEAR.
TEN UNDER IS YEARS OLD
Statistics Given at Annual Meeting of Connecticut Society of Social Hy- giene-Better Wages Recommended.

Hartford, Conn.,, Nov. 13.-The first | annual meeting of the Connecticut Society of Social Hygiene was held dress by the president, pr. Phineas Fl. Ingalls,, and the reports of the secre- tary and treasurer and of five commit tees. Prof. William E. Bailey of Yale university, chairman of the social evil committee, said in his report that ac- cording to the constitution of the so- c.ety the principal duty of the com- nittee seemed to be gathering of sta tisticS relating to the social evil.
 1o7 Gases in Superior Court. The city court records of 15 cities of the state and of the superior court were gone over. There were during the calendar year 1s10," he said. "4S persons sentenced to the state orison for offenses connected with the social evil. Of these, 43 were males and two females. Twenty-four were born in this country and 19 were of foreign from Italy and six from other Euro pean countries. The number of per sons convicted before the superior courts of the state in 1910 of offenses Ol these, s9 were males and IS females.
 Italy Leads Foreign Races.
 stOf the 107 persons convicted, 49 were born in the United States. 49 were foreign born, while the nativity of nine was unknown. Of the foreign born, 31 were born in Italy. Tn fact Italy fur rished nearly twice as many criminals convicted before these courts during 1910 as all the other foreign coun tries. Among those convicted before the superior courts, the males out numbered the females more than to l. while in the city courts the females outnumbered the males
 5o1 Cases in City Courts.
 There were convicted of offenses connected with the social evil before the city courts of 15 cities in the state during the calendar year 1910, 501 per sons of whom 205 were males and 296 females These cities contain about so per cent of the population of the state- There were probably about 250 convictions in the rest of the state l consider that the minimum estimate of the total convictions in the entire state may have been nearly 800.
 Ten Under IS Years of Age.
 "Of the 5o1 cases concerning which statistics were collected, POS of the persons convicted were of native birth, 145 of foreign birth, while the nativity eign birth, "A. or almost exactly 50 per cent were born in Italy. Of those convicted in the city courts. 10 were under Is years of age. 47 between IS and 1s, 1o5 between 20 and 24, s4 be- tween 25 and 29, 112 between 30 and 3s, 36 between 40 and 49, 23 50 or over, and "A ages unknown
 Very Little Organized Vice.
 ''Of the males convicted III the clLy courts in 1910. about 35 per cent had been before the same court previous tn that year. and for over 3S per cent. of the females this was at least the second time they had been found guilty before the same court. If the opinion of well known citizens and so- ciaI workers in the different cities in this state is to be accepted, there is very little organized vice In the state, | and conditions are much more hopeful than in some large cities in this eoun- try
 Reduce Use of intoxicants.
 Any means" Professor Bailey said. | which can be devised to reduce the i drinking of intoxicants in this state | will serve the ends of this society. We should further the efforts of those who are striving to obtain larger play grounds in our cities or better pro | vision for proper amusement among | the young. It is shame that where [ ever we turn for recreation in this | state we find that the means of enjoy | ment have been to such a large extent | oommercialized-
 Pay Girls Decent Wages.
 Employers of labor should endeavor | to pay a rate of wages sufficient to | support a working girl without making ! income by immoral practices. The | wages paid to young girls in some lines | of work in this state are pitifully low. | and while they max suffice for one who | lives at home, are too small for the girl | who Is entirely dependent upon her | own resources. Suitable provision for ! vocational training in this state would 4 assist the girl who must earn her own living.
 Education of the Youth.
 valuable as are these prevent ve the main hope for the future lies in education. The youth Of both sexes must be taught the sanctity of the human body. The necessity for purity should be brought home to male and female alike. The of the one sex are no more to be excused or condoned than those of the other. Education may be the slowest but it is the most successful method of dealing with social abuses"