Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-22
VICE CRUSADERS
SEE PRES. WILSON
Urge Him to Nationalke MOve-
ment for Protection of I'm
derpaid Girls.
HE PROMISES TO GIVE
MATTER HIS ATTENTION
Probers Hold Meeting Attended
by Prominent Washington
Society Women.

WASHINGTON. March 22.-Illinois
| vice crusaders, the senatorial com.
mission headed by Lieutenant-Gov.
ernor Barrett O'Hara, is in Washing.
ton today, seeking to nationalize the
scope of their inquiry.
To that end the commission first
sought the aid of President Wilson
with whom they conferred at the
White House. Lieutenant Governor
/ OHara was accompanied at his con-
ference with the President by the
other members of the. commission
Senators Edmund Beall, F. jeff Tos-
sey, d. T. Woodward and Niels JUL
After outlining to the President the
results of the inquiry in Illinois
which revealed in many instances
that girls and young working woaher
were paid less than living wage
and that many of them led double
! lives. the commissioners requested
the President to call national con-
| ference of State governors to plan a
systematic and sane campaign to bet.
ter working conditions of women
| throughout the nation.
Federal cooperation was sought In
! the movement already begun in many
States for the appointment of state
commissions similar to that from
Illinois to conduct inquiries into the
wage situation and into organized
| vice conditions in the various States
At the White House conference the
| question of federal inquiry through
the department of justice into the
white slave traffic also was discussed.
One of the means proposed as basic
relief for women was the enactment
| Of federal minimum wage law.
Later today the Illinois commission
conducted hearing, to which were
| invited several hundred prominent
welfare workers, clergymen, officials
and many prominent women In
Washington social and club life.
Lieutenant-Govern O'Hara sought
to learn the opinions of women who
move in high social circles concern
ing the influence upon working girls
of the extravaganza of women of
wealth.
Among prominent women who ac-
cepted invitations to the conference
were Mrs. Edison Bradley, Mrs. Hem
men Jennings, wife of a South African
diamond millionaire; Mrs Christian
Hemmick, Nine. Havenith, wife of
the Belgian minister; Sonora Riano,
wife of the Spanish minister; Mrs
Huntington Wilson and Mrs. w. Muir
ray Crane.
| Arden Foster, international COM
missioner of the British federation for
the emancipation of sweated women
and girls and white slavers, had a
conference with Mr. O'Hara during
the morning and accompanied the
Illinois commission to the White
House.
| The Illinois investigators In an ex-
ecutive session today determined not
to go to New York at this time. but
to return to Springfield from Wash
ington and visit New York later.
After Lieutenant Governor O'Hara
had urged President Wilson to call a
conference of governors and repre-
sentatives of various State vice COM
missions, Senator JUL urged an APP
preparation by Congress for homes for
girls in six or seven great industrial
centres where women, travelling from
State to State, could be cared &
while seeking employment.
1.-The government takes excellent
care of every pound of tobacco thai
bis shipped from Kentucky" said Sen
ator JUL, land it keeps careful watch
| over every pound of butterine. Surely
1t can devote some money and atten-
ton to the American girl who j.
forced to travel in search of employ
ment.'
Senator JUL and Senator Beall out
lined to the President briefly some o.
the revelations of the Illinois com
missions investigation in that State
"If we were but to begin to outline
all the conditions, said Senator JUL
"they would, Mr.. President, be al
most unbelievable. Much of the ties
timony we secured is absolutely un
printable. The conditions are sucl
as to demand national investigation
and the States need the government
back of this movement to remed!
them"
The lieutenant Governor urget
particularly that the national confer
ence be called either this summer o.
in the fall, at which remedial legisla
ton could be discussed and planned
He stated that the governors of thir
ty-two States already had agreed t
Join in the movement
President Wilson thanked the com
mission for their presentation of tn
7 subject.
81 do not believe I can grasp thu
full gravity of the situation from thi
brief outline said the president
"but if you will leave with me 'oui
recommendation and record of youi
investigation. I can assure yol | vii
give the matter serious attention