The Detroit times., 1912-11-15
SAYS EDUCATION IS BEST
WEAPON IN WAR ON VICE
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Michigan organization to afiliate with
the national body" said Mr.. Roe.
This local society must then under
take q study OF vice conditions In De-
troit. II would be aided by the ma
tionaI association, which has. for In
stance, q bureau OF investigation, EN-
ployfng competent, trained investl-
gators. and publicity department for
the distribution OF educational mat.
ter. These Investigators do their
work and report: they do not appear
as witnesses In any prosecutions
which may follow. That Is not their
business.
Having secured accurate knowl-
edge OF the situation, the next step
for the local society 10 70 study the
facts which 1t has discovered, to try
to find q remedy. This may lie In
greater vigilance on the part OF city
and county officials; or 1t may lie In
other things.
1T has been found best for the
local committee to be composed OF
private citizens who interest them
selves voluntarily In the work. rather
than to have a public committee Az
pointed. A public committee 10 usu-
ally fash In the pan. A privare
committee takes more interest In the
work and 10 more likely to carry IL
further.
Il should think that $4,000 would
be enough to cary on the committees
work for the first year. There shouid
be no difIiculty In raising this amount.
II has been our experience that II 10
easy to get much more than the
money. required. have talked with
men In Detroit who have assured me
that they are interested In the work
and will give extensive financial aid.
The city is not TO be depended on
for much money. The amount or
help which comes from the municipal
ity depends on who the ofiicials arc
and whether or not they like the work
that L. being done. SO believe that
the source OF funds should be private.
"The campaign OF education 10 the
most important part of the work
more important even than prescott
Tons OF Offenders. II the people can
be taught the results OF vice in an
adequate manner, they will be likely
TO refrain from II themselves.
"T do not believe In segregation.
The segregation scheme has been
given up In many cities-Chicago, Des
Moines, Rochester. Seattle. Los An
geles, for example. IN Los Angeles
in particular, where segregation was
abandoned Ave years ago, the effect
has been very good indeed. Abandon
ment OF segregation may mean more
work for the oficials, but 1t seems to
be attend<1 by good results.
II do not believe In medical In
spection, because II can never be ade-
quate.
The vice problem has become
senormously complicated In recent
years by the growth of cheap enter
Nainments, which attract young girls,
and are likely TO keep them away
from their homes In the evening. This
makes for a relaxation Of home dis
kipline, and for much greater expo
sure to temptation than was possible
m former years.
"The vice commission which 10 now
at work In Chicago II not part o.
the American Vigilance association,
but In an Independent body. The a.
soclation has nothing 20 DO with prose-
cutions OF offenders. When the prose.
cutting committee Of rs was founded
in Chicago, PEOPLE predicted that II
would meet an early death, instead, IL
has grown stronger. That seems to
be the result whenever the question
OF the study, regulation and preven-
ton Of vice is taken up in the right
way"
81 am IN hopes that Detroit will
ioin IN this crusade against vice."
a.
OF the Wayne County Medical society
at luncheon, Friday. THE day or
false modesty has gone and intend
10 speak plainly on this subject. No
longer do we consider ignorance akin
10 innocence. The problem 10 very
complex. II Is brought around through
great changes In the living conditions
OF girls. Girls are moving away from
home they are coming to the cities
from the country. They are put on
their own resources We must help
maite conditions safe for them AM
create conditions so tney can protect
themselves.
I'VE have had procurers, going
ABOUT the country long enough When
7 started In this work in Chicago. SIX
years ago. great many people would
not believe that there was such q
thing as the white slave traffic. The
people arenow aroused They realize
that they must talk frankly to the
boys and girls and tell them things
which they should have been told at
their mothers knees.
The time II coming when vice dis
eases will be made reportable And
when that time does come we Will
have better conditions"
Than Mr. Roe told his audience