The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-05

where plain English is the one thing which is
utterly inexcusibe. 1t gave all the salaeious
curiosity of responsibility opportunity TO air
itself It brought the brothe into polite con-
versation as o toothsome subject. 1t set
tongues to wagging wisely about that most un-
ending of all problems, the social evil"
So far did this bit OF sewer-gas permeate
the system of the people, that poisoned
Congress passed a law. The law made the
baggage Of the slums the subject Of interstate
commerce legislation. The strong arm of the
Government declared itself ready to check the
transportation of human beings considered TO
be of immoral character theoretically, the
railroads were put on guard 20 require GER
tifcate of character from each and every fe-
male passenger white Slavery for agita-
ton was a faint echo of the abolition move
ment Of the late hfties.
After the Law had been passed. there fol-
lowed reports. They were vile that the
very Government which had practically called
Tor them refused 10 lend its postofce depart
rent to their dissemination. Never any
.hing 50 full OF publicity as the report OF the
Chicago vice commission. New FORK followed.
/ Tie forbidden subject became the aaertised
topic OF a number of cities. Finally, nth
grand jury headed by SO correct a person as
John u. Rockefeller. Jr., New York under
took to get indictments against the white
Slave" dealers. ii spent months of tme and
thousands thousands of dollars. 1t went
through the mire of the dives with fine legal
'sieye-and it found nothing, In reality, there
was nothing to find. There never had been
anything to find. There vice, and plenty
Of IT, but no slavery" Perhaps there has
been a case here and there of white Slave
But such cases were punishable under the
ferns of existing law. They were pothing
more nor less than kidnapping, or Illegal re-
straint Of the person. A dozen old statutes OF
the common law fit the case. 50 far as the
effect of it's immortality on the community is
concerned Out of all the excitement there
resulted nothing except the turning Of the
attention OF the country. including the young
and susceptible of both sexes, upon subject
which, even to contemplate, causes loss Of
-senAitlXeneSa and refinement
We had thought that aWhte Slavery would
pass into the great collection of the curios of
the journalistic Imagination, but We forgot the
National law and the opportunity it affords
FOR Investigations, and jobs for the inyestigaS
tors Attorney General Wckersham, how
ever. had not forgotten. He has, instead. APP
pointed his Chief of the Department of Inyes-
ltigation" Special Commissioner" to sup
press the non-existent Every state in the
Union is to have one or more agents sticking
their noses into its cutters at per diems and
expenses. There are to be six hundred of
these sleuths who run down smells. In the
last months Of his term, the Attorney General
evidently concludes that there shall be Jobs
enough-of sort-to go round.
strangest of all, the Investigations of these
conditions have been first started in Virginia,
West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and
The District Of Columhia4I II there Is any sec
ltion where White Slavery does not exist it
is this one. There are i'll the territory spec-
fled, just, three places worthyeoG the name OF
city-Washington Baltimore, Richmond. II
J Slavery" exists in Washington, surely it
would have been discovered by Congress be-
, fore this. That it does not exist in Richmond,
every one knows. Baltimore is the cleanest
of all really big cities, West Virginia has
been free" il boIsterous. for all its young
life North Carolina declared itself free and
: independent--to hear her tell it--a full year
and more before anyone on this side of the
ocean ever dreamed the meaning Of the terms
We advise quiet about this investigation.
| Let the Investigators go their way in peace,
modified by the dollars OF their putrd work
) The only hope is that they will not be able to
get into the mails in the press the stuff
that unless printed by the Government, would
be barred as matter saacious and obscene!
DESTINY OF POLICE AND FIRE DEPART
MENTS.