The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-05-23
WOMANHOOD IN PERIL.

Some of the results of the investigation
in Illinois OF the vice and wages ques-
ton are given in the following showings:
White slavery presents hundred times
greater national crisis than did black
slavery.
Thousands of good girls are going
wrong simply because they can not live
upon the wages paid them by employers.
American womanhood is in grave peril
only because American manhood profits
from the helplessness Of womanhood to
enrich itself
The crisis is not confined to Illinois.
1t is national.
Senator Edmond Beall breaking down
completely in the investigation. announces
that he will spend every penny of his for
tune TO save girls from the piteous men
aces that surround them.
Lieutenant Governor Barrett O. Hara.
who has been a leader IN this investga-
ton has wired from Chicago to the New
York Herald as follows:
TO the Editor of the Herald Our in
veSication into the causes and effect of
white slavery in this state has shown con
CluSlvely that thousands of good girls are
going wrong every year merely because
tli0N Nta LCt lNC uiOlI lllE NdAtS pau
| them by employers.
The conditions revealed to our commits
sion have been only half told in the press
reports. Senator Edmond Beall, veter-
an OF the civil war and man of wide eX-
perience with the world, broke down
completely and wept during the examina-
ton of the victims Of low wages at our ex.
| eCutive session.
Senator Bcall is a retired manufacturer
! worth great many thousands OF dollars
! He told me that he intended to spend
! every cent OF his fortune and every hour
of his time to save American womanhood
from the piteous menaces that our investi-
CATION has shown constantly surrounds
her
white slavery presents a hundred
times greater national crisis than did black
slavery, the venerable Senator declared
to me, and say that as one who. fought
four years in the battles of the civil war"
Senators Tossey and Woodward have
declared themselves in like manner. We
have investigated this matter sanely and
Conservatively. We have tried to let the
sunlight in on condition and to spare
individuals. We have accorded TO all
witnesses exact justice and full courtesy.
And at the end OF our labors so far we
are appalled,, stunned, Mortified
American womanhood is in grave peril
solely and only because American man.
hood profits from the helpessness of
Womanhood TO enrich itself There is no
other conclusion to be derived. 1t is a
national shame, but it must be faced now
and boldly.
The Illinois commission began its labors
with no idea to do other than investigate
the question of white slavery as the term
is applied to the buying and selling of
women. We were forced soon, however,
to realize that low wages were the real
fundamental cause of white slavery, and
that to study the effect and ignore the
cause would be TO give to our investiga-
ton the appearance and reality of farce.
We refused to be parties to farce. The
people of Illinois, which took the lead in
the final solution of black slavery, stand
back of us Loyalty and the work will go
on regardless of whom or where it strikes.
Our merchant princes and our kings of
manufacture, the very people who have
been the witnesses before our commits
sion. admit that there must be readiust-
ment of wages. To a man they have
entered into sincere and earnest Co-opera-
ton with us.
The crisis is not confined to Illinois, 1t
is national Unquestionably the cond-
tons in your state are no better than in
our state, and Illinois asks the great State
OF New York to stand side by side with
her as she did so valiantly il the civil war;
this time to loosen the chains of bondage
from every American woman who is now
a white slave or is thus imperilled by low
wages For this, our commission pur-
poses TO visit your state within the next
two weeks.
BARRETT O'HARA.