Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-12
Il the PEOPLE Would Wake Up!

To find Hartford fairly considered a
part of the national white slave stu
alton was perhaps as big and Whole-
some shock as ever came TO the
average New England town. Inc
discovery was made by accident. a
resident of Hartford" says The Sur
vey, drought charges of accepting d
lsribe against federal detective,
Testimony in the trial which followed
Suddenly showed that the Hartford
nan was not only the Keeper of
disorderly house but was known to the
federal authorities as white shaver,
Hartford thus held one line in the net
the government white slave prosecu-
lions are weaving.
THAT was bad enough, but Wheh the
man testified that while the govern
nsent's activity made ii impossible for
him to get women from New YORK any
longer he could get all the girls he
wanted from Connecticut the whole
CITY cried out. The mayor shut every
Nothel with the formal approval OF
the Ministers Association. the Central
Labor Union, and the Equal Suffrage
Teague. At their request he an
nounced he would appoint vice COM
mission of fifteen members, and ex-
element died down somewhat Then
aAme proposals of a segregated dis
ffiet, and statemeG. against II
signed by twenty eight leading physi-
cians which only the Post among
Hartford papers had the courage to
print. That aroused the Equal Suf-
ffage League to a new effort Under
its auspices a mass meeting was ad-
dressed by men who have led in New
York and in Congress in the campaign
against organized white slavery and
Who were willing to help in working
out something better than the police
liberation of prostitution which Hart
ford has had for one hundred years.
When we read of such conditions we
wonder why they are tolerated in any
community. and why it requires
lombshell at the psychological moment
10 arouse the public to action. 1t is
Undoubtedly true that Hartford's
mayor. city government, police and
citizens had known such conditions
existed there. yet that which is every
body's business is nobody's business,
and vice thrives under public apathy.
! A man who is known and respected
in every city and larger town in
Maine brought to the Kennebec Jour
nal, the other day, indisputable proof
that Maine is far from free of such
vice. In the past Il months of jeer-
ing at law and notorious official pro-
motion of law-violation. such loath-
some social evils have prospered be-
,apnd all previous records for the
State. Photographs. physicians
certificates and personal admissions
prove the story.
And what are we going to do about
III Shall we allow il to go on? Shall
We sit and humble our disapprovai of
official betrayal Of oaths of Office. and
splice disregard of public demands. or
shall We wake up and wipe it out as
Hartford did, Such crime is fostered
and amazingly increased under legal
saloon system. Do you care to pro-
mote houses of ill-fame?
! II the people Of Maine could have
proof that police officers in some Maine
Yties patronize not only dives and
iitchen bar-rooms. but protect and
cpnsort with known prostitutes, would
they be ready TO condemn such a
regime of faSe-eoutempt2
We have very good reason TO be-
lieve that the people OF Maine will re-
ceiye some startling releyations in the
next few months.