The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-12-23
Interesting Story
of Purity Congress
Mrs. ]. w. Ferris, Delegate to Con-
ventiOn, Gives Account of Address
ses at Federation
SPEAKERS MANY AND NOTABLE
Statistics Given Showing Increase of
Social Evil; Strong Campaigns
Planned
(By Mrs. J. w. Ferris)

was held under the direction Of the
Worlds Purity Federation. There
were seven days of this Congress,
three sessions each day, excepting
Sunday morning when the noted
speakers were divided among the diff
ferent churches of the city.
Convention head quarters were at
the Radison Hotel where all delegates
were asked to register. Of the six
hundred ffty-nine who registered,
Minnesota contributed four hundred
twenty-five. The committee of re-
gistration estimated that nearly one
thousand delegates had failed to re-
gister.
Business meetings were held each
day by the Federation and delegates
from different organizations discus
sing their plans for work.
At the opening session Friday
morning the President and Vice Pres
ident gave brief addresses dealing
with the general purpose and methods
of the Congress.
President Steadwell said eve are
seeking a solution of the problem Of
Commercralized vice. We do not
claim to have panacea; we are seek
ing means whereby we may drive out
this terrible cancer from society. Our
effort in the past has been through
agitation; from now on our efforts
must be more constructive-it is not
necessary to uncover terrible condi-
tons without being able to give a
remids.
Mr.. Steadwell continued; "Proof
has come through courts, given in
sworn testimony before grand juries
and investigating committees, and col
lected by reformers, and private in
vestigators, which enables them to
positively affirm that there is both a
national and international traffice in
girls for purposes of vice, and that
10000 are required every year, 5000
every month, one every eight min
utes, to provide for the constant de-
mand of the houses of shame This
is but one phase of the Social evil,
but this alone is a sufficient reason
for the existence of our association.
But, standing as we do, for education
and law enforcement, we take into
the scope of our work, every form
of vice and stand, four square, for
it's destruction.
"Do | hear some one say, Watch
man what of the Night | answer.
The morning cometh, there is still
darkness in the caves and valleys and
low places of the earth, but the sun
light of a better day is already gild-
ing the hill tops"
The Vice President, Mr.. Moore of
Canada, told of some of the great
work which has been done in Canada
by the Federation. "In all Canada
at the present time, there is not a
city that recognizes commercralized
vice. Social conditions there were
winning fight.
Hon. S. w. Finch States Facts
The startling statement of Hon.
Stanley w. Finch, special commits
sioner for the Suppression of Vice De-
partment at Washington, that "No
less than $4,000 men and women are
engaged in procuring and living on
the earnings of these girls" has
shocked the whole civilized world and
every where thoughtful men and wom-
en- are turning to a study of this
grave question.
Educators are beginning to realize
its Importance as never before. Doc
tors business men and women are
engaged in it, the churches are cast
ing aside the cloak of over scrupulous
delicacy and modesty, and are grad
ually assuming their responsibility,
everywhere our organizers and lee
turers go. Strong men and women are
rallying to our standards, and lining
up in local organizations, not only
to make a more successful study of
conditions in their own localities, but
to desire means for the suppression
of all forms of the social evil. The
influence of this association il being
felt more and more as it's work
spreads out each year over the states,
and large plans are maturing for
the. further extension of our inter-
work"
with wide open eyes we look out
over the field and see the forces Of
evil, and the forces OF righteousness