Evening journal., 1913-04-24
JUDGE WILL
FINE MEN In
MORALS COURT
ChiCagd'S Experiment Proves
Big Benefit to Unfortunate
Women
PROVIDE HOME FOR
THOSE SEEKING CHANGE

CHICAGO, April 24-chicago's
new Moral Court-the first of It's kind
in the worlds operating upon the
theory that there is no derelict OF So
ciety, no matter how dcpravod. no
matter how long or how hardened in
vice, but that still harbors some
spark Of goodness, some dormant
smouldering character material that
can be famed into a flame Of good
citizenship and moral betterment
The morals court is in its third week
today In that short time, according
to those who were most instrumental
in bringing It into being. it has dem-
onstrated its place by the great good
already accomplished through It.
The theory on which this new court
is being conducted IS not being
preached from a pulpit as an abstract
proposition. It Is being put to actual
practice every day. with sociological
experts who crowd the benches Of
the court room, looking on-and taxi
ing notes They believe 1t will marx
new era I'm ourt methods of deal
ing with habitues OF the underworld.
They believe it an essential part Of
any city which Is striving to clean
out the morally leprOus spots IN the
community Il is they contend an
important step in the solution of that
just now widely and frankly discussed
social evil problem.
The court opened April z. Judge
Jacob Hopkins, who was chosen a.
preside over the sessions of the new
court because of his deep interest I'm
stamping out vice, today declared he
Is wholly satisfied with the expert
ment "We have set 10 work with
this creed said the judge, that
there are no 'down-and-outers' There
are persons who are temporarily
down, but they are never completely
out There is always something left
In the apparently most helpless hu-
man derelict which can be awaken
ed. All it needs is human kindness,
a helping. upward pull These are
not always found In the ordinary
court. and 10 rs too much 20 oxpect
In proof OF the Judges assertion
there was the case OF Flossie TAYLOR.
She was brought before the court
with tears streaming down her paint
ed cheeks. She confessed having sup
ported herself-and the baby-by a
life of shame. for more than eighteen
years. "The baby was a baby nc
longer She has grown to near.
womanhood without learning how hel
mother has given her things dear I,
the average girls heart
n was only eighteen years ole
when my father died. she said slow.
ly. in a voice that was barely audible
7 got Job thar paid me $3.50 a week
Judge J couldn't live on that And
fhcn the baby came 10 was really
no use 10 try % be good-and. Judge
before God. J di1 Try for awhile
The 5udge buried his hands in bis
fzce for a moment do you want that
chance now, be asked The woman'l
eyes Frightened. sure. she replied
~ can really get H. I want fc
start neu. Nobody ever gave me a
start A woman social worker. as
Hociafed with the Jewish charities
volunteered 10 give the Taylor woman
= chance-a place In her own home
The two women went out together
That was the third day the new couri
opened Fiossio Tayior-she has an.
other name now-doesn't look like
that woman who faced Judge Hopkin.
nearly three weeks ago today.
But every woman OF the street who
is brought into court doesn't want N,
chance. Some Of them do not evor
show the least disposition 70 start
anew-to leave the old, sordid ifl
with It's garish luxuries for the less
hilarious joys that would come with
the change In such cases heroi,
measures are taken IA the hope that
they will change the derelicts view
point.
There was Nellie Burns. who trip
ped brazenly 10 the bar 70 tell tn
court she was well satisfied with thl
kind Of life she was leading Yer,
/ WE'LL said the court. fifty dOllarl
fine. The next time you are brought
before me from the street you vii
go to jail for as long term as thl
law allows A wad OF gum in Mel
lies mouth slipped down her throa
and nearly choked her. She blanchel
and probably did more inward think
ing" in the few minutes than she hal
done in weeks before. Exactly sever
days later she called on Judge Hop
kins at his home. Judge Hopkin
wouldn't tell the details of the inter
view. He merely smiled and said
Nellie had changed her name and he
mode of living
Il believe 1t Is possible TO stop i'm
proper actions by women on Chicago
. streets" said Judge Hopkins toda,
, II believe Il possible to eliminate tn
street walker in every large city /
America. And when YOU do that yo
make II possible for your own mothe
or sister TO walk the street unescorte,
without fear it insults I do not be
live that women of the streets shoul
be fined except in unusual case
When the court assesses a fine II Is
, virtual decree that the unfortunai
, girl shall go out on the street an
repeat the offense that she may pa
the fine. Fines should be made Or,
hibitiye Where a girl can be place
in a home, It must be the purpose
the court to turn her over to goo
people In some instances I sha
send girls TO hospitals for medic,
treatment. But when we cole,
fines. we are going to cellect froi
men. They are the real causes OF tn
social evil"
! LECTURE TONIGHT.
} The Rev. S G. Daugherty, of Phnt
. delphia, who was instrumental /