The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-05-09
New Kenosha Organization
Hears Of Work Done in
Other Cities.
MISS ANNA PETERSON SPEAKS
Worker for organizatsoa in Racine
Emphasizes Work that Can Be Done
in Saving Young Girls From Getting
Into Wrong Path of Life.

The "Big Sister Association mass
meeting, which was held Friday after
noon at Guild Hall, marked the crest
Of the wave of enthusiasm which has
characterized the movement in Keno
sha from the start Miss Anna Pet
erson, the Big Sister of Racine, told
of many concrete cases in that city,
illustrating the wholesome, kind and
effective methods used in safeguard
ing the creation Of all Of the girls
Of that city, in the organization Of
girls clubs in the various manufactur
ing companies, in the protection of the
girl on the verge Of delinquency from
publicity and persecution and the build
ing up about her Of props and various
aids to strengthen and develop her, Ill
timately changing the current of her
life from one directed to the reform
school to one of self-relianee and hap
Ply usefulness.
Miss Peterson emphasized the fact
that the protection Of the young girls
of any community could not but mean
also the protection of the boys. Her
stand was that of any big sister
toward younger one an attitude of
cordial sympathy in her fun as well
as help and direction and love in her
time Of trouble. She stated that in
spite Of the fact that the Racine or
ganization has been in existence less
than two years, it has come to be
known and used not only by large
number of citizens, but also by the
courts and various private societies.
Among its list Of accomplishments are
la city ordinance prohibiting stalls in
saloons, an official supervision of the
moving picture shows of the city and
the maintenance of small temporary
home for girls which cancels the neces-
sity of placing any girls in the city
Lookup, while they are awaiting trial.
At the close of Miss Peterson IS adj
dress, Mrs Chas. H. Matthews, presi-
dent Of the Big Sister Association Of
Kenosha, called the attention Of the
audience to the membership cards and
urged those present to support the
movement, not alone by taking out
membership themselves, but also by
securing other members among their
friends and expressing their willing
ness to be active IN other ways to the
advancement Of the cause. There was
la hearty response to Mrs. Matthew S
appeal. Membership amounts to $500
annually. Most of those present
pledged themselves at once others
took cards away with them and will
undoubtedly be heard from later. If
Kenosha has the conviction that a Big
Sister will be valuable to the com
munity, Kenosha must support the
movement which those cities which
have put it to the test pronounce
indispensable.
Miss Peterson made clear the fact
that the Big Sister has saved money
for both the city of Racine and the
county. If a girl were taken into
court before the Big Sister Association
had been formed the court was under
the necessity not only of giving the
girl trial, but if the judge realized
that her home surroundings would
Ionly impede the girls reform, he was
practically under the necessity of sent
encing her to the industrial school
from which she can not be released I'M
til she is twenty one. Girls as young
as twelve and thirteen years are com
mitted and the board, $3.50 per week,
charged to the county. This amounts
to $4,000 annually per girl. A girl
may remain in the school eight years
which would cost her county $1,040.
Is it not an expensive economy to pay
$3.50 per week, year in and year out,
to support one girl in the reform school
when $500 per month will not only
remove the necessity Of sending num-
bers of girls to the reform school but
may so transform their 1ivesNthat they
become contributing members of the
community
Mss Peterson now has fourteen girls
paroled to her from the court. Racine.
has recognized this point in economy
and that county is about to make
substantial annual subscription to the
association. Private enterprise, how
ever, must take he~1nitiative. viii
you help Kenosha start along this new
line Of progress2
Address all contributions to Mrs. 2.
G. Simmons, treasurer, and all in
quries to Mrs. Chas Matthews, presi-
dent.
Judging from the crowds around the