Bisbee daily review., 1912-07-14
YOUNG GIRL
DRIVES VICE
FROM TOWN
IS Year Old Miss After
Three Years Fight Cleans
City in Illinois; Unde-
sirables 'FlOated'
OFTEN JAILED
AND BEATEN
Despite Obstacles Youthful
Reformer Sticks to Work
Until Sictmry Crowns
Her Efforts

Y "
Virginia Brooks, the IS-year-old girl
who started three years ago sinsle
handed TO purge West Hammond, II
inois, OF graft and all forms OF vice
saw the last chapter of her long fight
written in one Word-Victory. All
the dives were closed by CAief Of
Police Kulcyk and for the first time
In its twenty-five years history. Vest
Hammond is free OF gambling dens,
low saloons and resorts. The indor-
liable will and pluck of gTl, VIII
won a nations applause AMI respect
have resulted in changing town that
was known as The little hell of the
world. into a clean, wholesome com
munity. To-day the resort proorietors,
gamblers, gra:ters, thieves, thuSs
and lewd women were driven out of
the city and their places OF business
nailed up.
Their exodus was spectacular They
were escorted 10 trains by the pn-
lice and told never to enter West
Hammond again as hundreds cheered
their departure.
The slender. dark.eyed girl who
was laughed at when she announced
her anti-yice crusade, was asked To
day how il seemed to be victorious.
Need you ask such a question:
Need anyone who has followed this
fight? Why, it is the happiest day
of my life," she replied.
when you consider that II has TAX
en- nearly two years, when you re-
has a..
tie encouragement: that | have been
abused, sarrested and even threatened
with death, you may realize that the
word happy is not sufficiently strong
10 express how ! feel.
Starting with no funds bat with a
clear idea of what a good municipal
government should stand for Virginia
Brooks soon became known as the
Joan of Arc of West Hammond"
She met with defeat after defeat and
was even arrested beaten and threat
ened with death a number Of times,
but her courage never failed. Speak
ing from soap boxes on the corners,
fighting cases through the courts and
leading her army of women support
ers in a fist fight, Miss Brooks aTous-
ed such a sentiment against graft
and vice that al last the better ele-
ment in the community came 10 her
aid and blotted both from the Illinois
city. Now the city is enjoying an I'M
precedented building boom and the
''whiskey row" is In mourning
Miss Brooks first came into prom
inence on the occasion of the award
ing of certain contracts by the board.
Miss Brooks discovered graft, she
called the members of the Village
board thieves" and 'grafters" and
was arrested
The contracts were awarded for
paving the streets. The workmen
started TO work in the street Cali
ing in the wives of her neighbors to-
gether. Miss Brooks led them against
the workmen with frying pans, hrOoms
clubs and bricks. The workmen
were driven TO cover with broken
heads and Miss Brooks was again ar
rested. The paving contractors oh
tanned an injunction restraining her
from further interfering with them.
After this Miss Brooks home was
set on fire.
On. one occasion Miss Brooks was
club in Hammond She caused a
sensation and almost riot by giving
the name OF every man who owned
property used for immoral purposes,
both In Hammond and West Ham
nond. She mentioned some of the
leading citizens OF both places. and
several of their wives sat In the
audience. They wildly protested, and
the louder they protested the more
emphasis did Miss Brooks FAY on the
Illegal doings Of their husbands
After many legal battles, some of !
which she lost and many Of which |
she won, Miss Brooks made a per
sonal appeal to Gov. DeGeen to re
move the members Of the Village
hoaTd. He informed her that he could /
not act In the matter, and suggested l
that a city charter be obtained. I'm |
nediately she circulated petitions. |
and the charter was forth coming
The village board was not to be re
moved so easily, however The time |
'or election OF mayor came, but there |
Was no election. Miss Brooks started |
suh against the board TO com /
pei them 20 hold an election. The |
,ase was fought through the courts. /
and finally the supreme court Of Hi /
lois decided in her favor. The cleo
ion was ordered
When they saw that they had been
1adly beaten the graft ring made ar I
for hard fight. They 1
,egan to hold meetings and attempted
o arouse as much spirit in their
-anks as the girl had inspired in her
Importers. The day for election
anne Miss Brooks had several wO-
men at each polling place. Each vot-
T was stopped before he cast his bal
OF and told Of the struggle for right
rhe Kings Of Whiskey Row" had /
heir watchers and sentinels on guard
90 and frequent clashes. real knock
Iown and drag out fights occurred
'etween the women and The vice ele-
nent
Miss Brooks was victorious and the