Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-02-01
ROCKEFELLER, JR.
DEFENDS BUREAU
OF SOCIAL HYGIENE
Tells For What Purpose 1t Was
Organized.
STUDIES COMPLETED
BY DECEMBER 1913
Leader In the Movement For Better
Social Conditions Takes Advanced
Grounds For His Pcsition-Believcs
Man is Chiefly Responsible For
Woman's Fall.

Woman's Fall.
NEW YORK, Jan. 27.-In answer
to questions asked him regarding the
organization. work and plans of the
Bureau of Social Hygiene, John ID.
Rockefeller, Jr., founder of the bur
a gave out the following interview
toady:
THE idea Of establishing a perma.
aent organization to cope with the
social evil in New York was the out
growth of my service of six months
as foreman of the special white slave
grand jury, appointed in New York
city. at the beginning of 1910. | came
at that time to realize the extent and
horror of the evil and to believe that
II constitutes one of the great and
vital world problems of the day. In
the judgment of eminent medical men,
ii forms from the point of view of dis
ease, the greatest single n to
the perpetuation of the human race.
Therefore, as a result of conference
with many people. the Bureau of So
cial Hygiene was established.
Under direction of the bureau. Mr..
George J.. Kneeland, who conducted
the investigation carried on by the
Chicago Nee commission, has made a
comprehensive study of vice condi
lions in New York; and MI. Abraham
Flexner has spent nearly a year
abroad, investigating the methods of
dealing with this problem in the lead
ing cities of Europe. He will make
further studies in a number OF the
larger cities of this country. As each
of these studies is completed, it will
be published, and until this is done
the bureau deems it unwise and pre-
mature to express any conclusions as
t. a method of dealing with the social
evils. II is hoped that the press and
the public viii DC disposed 70 await
the result OF these studies before for
mulating conclusions.
an answer to questions as TO
whether the unfortunate woman is a
victim or a contributor to her own
vicious career, | say unhesitatingly
that in the vast majority of cases she
Is a victim. Prostitution as now
conducted in this country and in Eli.
rope r. very largely a mans business;
the women are merely tools in the
hands of the stronger sex. 1t is a
business run for profit and the profit
is large. 1t is my belief that less
than twenty-five per cent. OF the pros
titutes in this country would have fall
en- if they had had an equally good
chance TO lead a pure life. That they
have been dragged into the mlre in
such large numbers is due TO a va
riety of circumstances. among which
are poverty. low wages, improper
home conditions and lack of training,
the desire to crafty the natural crav-
ing for amusement, pretty things, etc
but while all of these and many others
may be contributing causes. man is
chiefly responsible for their fall.
THUS far the work of the bureau
has been financed by its members and
a few interested friends, and this will
continue to be the case until a larg-
er and more formal organization is
considered advisable.
ITO it's future financial policy 1t is
not now necessary to give attention.
AS its needs grow, there are numbers
Of men and women who, ] am conf
dent, stand ready ito join in meeting
them.
while the bureau expects to pub
lish all of its important studies. 1t Is
obvious that its preliminary work can
best be done without publicity.
THE bureau holds itself ready to
enter any field of investigation or
work not already occupied effectively
by other organizations which seem
likely to contribute to the main pur-
pose for which it has been establish
ed"