Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-17
VICE EXPOSE MAY
END CHILD LABOR
Employers Already Frightened
by Inquiry, Says Lieutenant
Governor o'Hara.
MANY GIRLS LEAVE CITY
Parents in Country Districts, Stirred
by Revelations Send for
Daughters.

Chicago. March 17.-"Three notable
results have come from the investiga-
tons made by the Illinois senate com
mission on white slavery" said Lieu
tenant Govern9T Barrett o'Hara Sat
urday.
There has been a general exodus
by the country girl from the city. Par
ents, aroused at the revelations we
have made. are sending for their
daughters, who now are glad TO go
home
The second effect We have noted
Is that child labor has been discour-
aged. Employers are commencing to
dread public criticism which is being
heaped upon them for employing very
young girls
The third. and AMOS equally i'm
portant effect. has been the decrease
IN the number OF girls of well-to-do fam
lies who apply for work Just for
the fun Of it, Such girls have had
more 10 do In making for immortality
than Is known generally Drawing an
allowance from their parents, they
dress In manner that their poorer
sisters cannot initiate at the wages
paid unless they sell their virtue"
Coincident with Lieutenant Govern
or OHara's revelation, NJ Blair Coan,
chief investigator for the commission,
declared that the first vital blow has
been struck at the root OF the white
slave" traffic Not only IL the name
Of the man al the head OF the nefarious
Industry known, but also those OF his
hirelings These men are under con
slant surveillance and when they are
needed they will be summoned before
the commission as Witnesses.
we know the name OF the man at
the head OF the white slave trade In
Illinois" said Mr. COan For obvi.
Gus reasons. OF course. Il cannot be
revealed AZ this time. but we can say
that he is well known politician
and now holding Office in Chicago. At
present he is away from the city. but
our detectives are watching his every
move
1T is the plan OF the commission
not only to do away with the causes
that drive girls into life OF shame
but also wipe out the vampires who
exploit the unfortunates. once they
have fallen. II will be house clean.
ing from top TO bottom. When the
time comes. the slave trafickers will
be subpoenaed az Witnesses and if
they do not talk they will be clapped
into Jail"
Parents all over the country are
sending for their children" said Mr.
OHara. IN discussing the effects o.
the investigation "Astonished anC
frightened ~ what has been revealed
they are no longer satisfied 10 allow
their sons and daughters 70 try e
make precarious living in a crowded
oity, when they might be living IL
comfort AZ home Those now Twins
with their parents on the farm or II
small villages are willing 10 sta!
there. Public opinion is doing ~
work well believe that the genera
tendency 20 drift 20 the city has beer
eftectually checked
Even girls who have fallen victim
Of circumstances are being offered
chance Among tho many letters
have received Offering help TO such a
those, is one from s. Fred Cumming
OF Dwight, Ill
Send your over-worked, poorly
paid factory and shop girls down {,
us. he wrote II they are willing u
live honest lives we are ready AM
anxious 20 help them. Our farmer
down here want young women in thei
homss They will be given homes
wholesome food almost as much mon
ey as they now make, and plenty O
Gods good wholesome air lie not thi
better than an attic room and starva
tom"
Mr.. OHara will communicate wit
the officers Of he Illinois Free En-