The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-01-13
RESCUE HOMES
FOR ALL CITIES
White Slavery Crusade to Be
Supplemented by System
of Shelter Houses.
SCHEME Is NATIONWIDE
Permanent Organization to Be Formed
in the Capital This
Week.

Stanley w Finch. Federal director of
the crusade against the white slave traf-
fic, is convinced that in the suggested
private endowment of nationwide or
ganization to construct and maintain
homes for the young women whom his
investigators and special agents have
rescued from the clutches of vice. will
be found the necessary supplement to
the law itself. Mr.. Finch said last night
1T is my hope that in a very few
years We will he enabled to establish
in every city of the United States OF
a population of 10000 or more. one of
these rescue homes. The larger the city
the greater the number of homes that
will be necessary The reason for this
ray not be obvious to the casual observer,
but we have discovered il to be a fact
that in order to insure the success of
the work not more than forty or at most
fifty of the rescued women should be
housed together. Indeed, from twenty
five to thirty is the ideal number
In the development OF the Florence
Crittendon system of Hope and Help
Missions, this limitation has been found
to be most desirable There is a great
diversity In the class and character of
the women whom the agents of the De-
partment of Justice have been able to
save from the hideous shame of the
white slave traffic. Practically every
case OeIndnuS a ul1eTcnt some
of the women have found themselves in
this evil life through vanity; others
through despair; many through poverty;
but few through desire to surround them
selves with the conditions which life
of this sort brings in its train.
To Safeguard Women.
The new association. while it will CO.
operate with the department in every
possible way in suppressing the white
slave traffic. will devote its chief en-
ergies to welfare work on a tremendous
scale. throwing safeguards around the
young women in the large cities. and Of
fering a way out for those who have
been victimized by white slavers.
Homes modelled on the lines of the
Florence Crittenton homes. which through
the philanthropy of an individual doner
have been established in a number OF
cities. will be provided in every city in
the country.
The department now has in its pos
session approximately 10000 names and
addresses of young women requesting the
aid of the association, and ii is rapidly
acquiring further data. This is made
possible by the extensive machinery OF
the department. and all the information
available will be placed at the disposal
of the association.
Mr.. Finch said he formed the idea OF
this association some years ago, and II
seems that it is now TO be realized. with
every promise of being great factor
in =the work which the government has
undertaken -throusa-this department for
the eradication OF this form Of evil
throughout the country.
Il do not care TO state now who are
the great moneyed forces behind this
association, Mr. Finch stated. 1T is
enough to say now that it will be or
ganized some time this week in Wash
ingtOn. 1t is obvious that the work Of
the department on these lines and that
Of the American Rescue Association, as
the organiza ton probably will be called,
will be mutually helpful. The prosecu-
ton of ule main offenders will, of course.
be carried on vigorously by the Depart
ment of Justice. 1t also is evident that
the prosecution Of the main criminals
and the scattering of the inmates of
places OF crime is not sufficient, unless
there be ample means to provide for the
uplift Of the innocent victims of the
white slave dealer