The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-03-30
WHY GIRLS GO WRONG.
The Illinois Vice Commission Inyes-
tigation.

Monroe News-Star: The IllinOl.
Vice Commission has rendered a
great service to the country by TAX
| inc what seems to be a wrong line
in its investigation of the environ
ment and wages of the working
girls. It's apparent assumption thai
| the denizens of the red light dis
trict' are recruited from working
girls whose pay is inadequate to
support them, has called forth a
Just storm Of protest from those
who know more about the women
of the underworld than the alleged
staid and sedate senators do The
T suit is that a better insight into
this sad and heavy problem is be-
ing obtained by the public than has
ever been afforded before, and it is
hoped permanent good will result.
| Miss Heard, superintendent of the
temporary shelter for women III
Philadelphia, adds her testimony to
that Of others who know, in declar-
ing that most Of the fallen women
have drifted into their present posi-
ton from conditions under which
they lived comfortably and decent
ly. As to the fundamental cause Of
the downfall of girls, she says:
Motherhood in this country is at
low ebb. Parents pay too little at
tention to the actions of their
daughters, and many would be sur
prised to learn that the daughter
who had gone wrong started her
life of shame in her mothers par
lor We who work here in the vice
district and who come into contact
with the women themselves, know
that what | have said is true"
The majority of men ought also
to know it is true. They have come
in contact with the class of young
men, scattered through every call
ing in life, who consider the leading
of a girl from the straight path
something to boast of among their
fellows. And they should know,
from the circumstances so gleefully
recounted, that such a thing would
have been impossible if there had
been the proper motherly care and
vigilance.
No, the girl doesn't always go
wrong because she has to work hard
for little pay. AS matter Of fact,
we believe it can be established by
the records that the working girls"
are living lives of purity in a great
er degree than are the ones who are
more fortunately situated The rank
of the women of the underworld
are not recruited from the shops
and other. places where young wom-
en- labor in any greater average
than from the homes where ease
and luxury is enjoyed to the fullest.
these are facts That can be proven
by the life-story of those who have
gone down the primrose path to a
miserable existence, surrounded by
all that is degrading and revolving.
The real reason for the ever-in-
creasing number who find their way
to the ''red light district" as de-
clared by Miss Heard, is that par
ents pay too little attention to their
daughters and where and with
whom they spend their hours OF
recreation. Often-very often-it isl
because the daughter has not the
right kind of home training and
protection, and because there are
always things calling themselves
men ready to take advantage of the
fact.
After all, in nine cases out Of ten,
the home life in childhood is re-
sponsible for what the man or
woman becomes when they areI
grown up. The child which has the
proper home training and is ,respon-
sive to the wishes of its parents,
rarely gets very far away from the
right path. Occasionally, thosel
reared in homes of refinement and
culture, with the best and most
conscientious parents stray from
he path of rectitude, but this is the |
exception and not the rule. So, in
view of these known facts, it is of
he utmost Importance that parents
throw around their children the |
best possible environments, giving
hem living examples of the right |
and proper course of conduct.
TpptnI>chin Nnfico