The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-03-13
Poverty the Cause OF
Downfall Of Women

Acting Governor Of Illinois Declares
That Low Wages and Prostitution
Aree Twin Evils-startllnG ReveIa-
lions At Inquiry.
Chicago. March Sour commission
has proved that low wages is the prin-
cipal factor in causing prostitution"
declared Acting Governor O'Hare, head
Of the Illinois senate white slave COM
mission. tonight.
big business cannot deny this in
the face Of the overwhelming testi-
mony Of the victims themselves. Ev-
cry immoral woman that has testified
has sworn that poverty and inability
70 earn enough money honestly to
live half decently, drove her into a
life of shame. They we're selected
hap-hazard. Big business men are
responsible for this awful condition..
Zone witness hered Julius Rosenwa'd
many times a millionaire and chief
owner Of business that pays $1,000
900 profit year, admitted that he
could have paid $4,000, 600 a year more
% his rnderpaid employees without
seriously interfering with the profits
If his great concern.
1.-The commission has crystallizedI a
sentiment against such practices. We
have begun at the top, among those
who pay the highest of the starva-
ton wages. When we get down to
the bottom, where the girls are work
ed 10 hours a day for 50 week and
even less we shall expose worse con-
ditions.
Phiianthropists Questioned
"The millionaires we have question
ed are known as philanthroristsJ lib
eral donors to- charity balls, patrons of
churches, public charities and leaders
of society
eff we find that these men who val
ne their regulations enough to guard
them by liberal gifts to charitable
works arc, underpaying their women
employees what may we expect when
we investigate the INSCRIPTIONS small
business, sweatshop owners and pitt
less exploiters of women and children.
Before we get through with this
investigation the whole country will
be shown that low wages and prostitu-
ton are twin evils, or, ratherJ that
low wages is the mother Of prostitu-
ton. It has been shown that com.
merce protects vice when profitable
to do so. Big employers cannot long
er pretend ignorance Of the fact that
the poverty created by starvation
wages fills the brothels. Millionaires
can no longer claim to be philanthro-
pists because CT gifts to charities,
when they are driving women and
girls, some of them mere children, in.
to houses Of i'll fame.
Later we she'll show the relatively
small proportion of vice recruited
from dance halls, summer parks and
women procurers. Our principal aim
Is to enact minimum wage law, fix
ing the lowest pay any woman shall
get at enough to make her independ.
emit from want Capital is making sue
profits out of labor that it can read
lily afford all that is demanded"
Senator Beall, member Of the com
mission tonight,l disclosed the con
tents of letters received from John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., CT offering to aid the
commission with his personal influence
and fortune. Rockefeller volunteered
to furnish any amount of money ne
cessary, Senator Beale said, and asked
to be allowed to cooperate in some
way beneficial to the investigation.
"The commission has accepted Mr.
Rockefeller's liberal offer,' said Sen
ator Bcale, "and will get from him
report on the economic conditions Of
working girls in New York He will
have a commission sit there, we as
sumo, to examine witnesses as the Hi
nois commission has dcne. We d.
not know the exact means he viii
employ, but the testimony of New
York working girls, white slaves. and
II possible, big employers, will be pro
cured in New York City,
Refused to Tell Profits
In executive session this Afternoon
the probers decided to postpone &C
ton with regard to James Simpson
vice-president Of tho Marshall Fielt
company, and Edward Hillman, secrc
tary Of the Hillman company. whit
refused to tell what their annual pro
tits are. The lieutenant governor hold
the view that the committee has al
the powers Of court and may cit
both merchants for contempt IL the!
persist in their refusal
lIillman will be on the stand agail