New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-28
PUTS BLAME UP TO MEN
Women Their Victims for
"Profit." Says Rockefeller.
SOCIAL EVIL RACE MENACE
Plans Vigorous Warfare to
Combat White Slave" Trade
in the United States.

The orsanZcd commercial social evil
in this country. in the opinion Of John
H. Rockefeller. jr.. constitutes the great
est single menace 10 the perpetuaton OF
the human race" In statement made
public Yesterday Mr.. Rockefeller gives
further details regarding the aims OF the
Bureau Of Social Hygiene. through when
he hopes 10 wage a vigorous warfare
against the white slave" trade. MI.
Rockefeller holds that women are merely
tools in the hands OF the stronger sex
and that poverty and low wages force
many unfortunate women TO become vic
tius OF vice 1T is a mans business. run
for profit" he SAYS. and. the p'oht IS
large"
Mr.. Rockefeller believes that the pre-
limiuary work 81 tue bureau can best DC
done without publicity. but h. adds that
IL is the intention 10 publish oil OF us I'M
portant studies. Regarding the scope OF
the proposed organization the statement
says:
The idea OF establishing a permanent
organization to cope with the social eva
IN this city was tho OUtgroWih OF M! SCI
vice of six months as foreman OF ,nc
special white slave grand Jury ap-
rolnted b. New York city at the begin
ming OF 1910 ! came 81 that time TO red' :
re the extent and horror OF the evil ana
10 believe that u constitutes one oI .,'c
great and vital world proDI'ins OF lh1
dsX In ia. Judgment of eminent mcu!Ihl
men IL forms from the point of view OF
disease the greatest -ingl" menace 10 tnc
pcrp.tuat!on OF the human race. ihtT.-
fore. as result OF conferences WIN
many people the Bureau OF Social Hygiene
was established. -
Under the direction OF :he bureau.
Gcorgc j. Kneeland. who conducted the
Investigation carried Oh by the th!cas"
Vice Commission. las made rompre-
h.ueivc study of vic. conditions In this
CITY. and Abraham FlcNner has spent
nearly year abroad investigating nv
methods of dealing with TINS p'on.etn w,
INC leading cities Of Europe. lie VIII
MAKO further atudies In a number OF the
lar.cg cities OF this country. A. each OF
these studies j. completed II viii be pun-
llShed. and until this is done the bureau
deems IL unwlse and premature 10 eN,
press any conclusions AS TO a method Oh
dealing with the social evil IN inns ON,
II is hoped that the press and the PUBIC
will be disposed TO await the result Oh
these studies before formulating concur
sions
As 10 whether the unfortunate woman
ia . victim or q contributor 20 her own
vicious career Mr.. Rockefeller says
say unhesitatingly that in the vast
ma iority of cases she is "A victim. Pros
tuition as now conducted IN TINS counug
ma in Europe - very largely man
business: the women are merely too!s ia
th. hands Of the stronger sex. ~ ~ !"
business run for profit, and the rroht IL
LARGO II is my belief that less man :"
ner cent of the prostitutes IN TINS couh,
inv would have fallen II they had lad
an equally good chance 10 lead pure ire
That they have been dragged INTO the
mire in such large numbers Is due 20 a
variety OF circumstances, among WHICH
are Doyerty, low wages. improper nome
conditions aud lack OF training. the desire
IN crafty the natural craving for amuse.
ment pretty things. etc: but While All II
,bese and many others may be contrlDn;-
ing causes, man is chiefly responsible TOT
their fall. -, ,,, 10.
'rhus far the work of the bureau mas
hsen financed by its members and rev
Interested friends. and this VIII continue
10 be the case until larger ana t.1.'
formal organization l. considel,u az.
a hlc TO it, future financial po!lcy IL ~
not now necessary TO give attention. "
its needs grow there are many men anu
women In this city who. | am coiIiueh|
stand ready TO join In meeting them.
Mfr. Rockefeller says the bureau holds
Itself ready to enter any hcld OF inNestl-
cation or work not already occupied ei
,ectiyelv by other organizations "ni.I'
seem likely TO contribute 10 the mann pur-
pose for which il has been estabiishcu'