The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-27
The Greatest is the Social Evil.
Says Rockefeller, Jr.
Man, Not Woman, is Respon-
sible for the Conditions.
BUSINESS RUN FOR PROFIT
And the Profit Is Large, De-
cIares His Report
After an Investigation Extend
ing Over Nearly a Year.

New York, Jan. 27.-Man, not
women, is responsible for the organ
lied commercial social evil in this
country, is the opinion of John d.
Rockefeller, jr. Tt is a mans business
run for profit, and the profit is
large
These views are expressed in a
statement made public by Rockefeller
today giving further details of the
aims of the bureau of social hygiene
through which Mr.. Rockefeller and
other philanthropists hope to attack
and alleviate conditions which he con-
siders the greatest single menace to
the perPetuatfon of the human race"
The idea of establishing a perma-
nent organization to cope with the So
cial evil in this city" says the state
ment, was the outgrowth of my ser
vice Of six months as foreman of the
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 it constituted one of
the great world problems of the day.
In the judgment of eminent medical
men, It forms from the point of view
of disease. the greatest single men
ace to tho perpetuation of the human
race Therefore, as result of confer
ences with many people, the bureau
of social hygiene was established.
Under direction of the bureau,
George J Kneeland, who conducted
the investigation carried on by the
Chicago vice commission, has made
comprehensive study of vice eondi-
tfons in this city and Abraham Flex-
ner has spent nearly year abroad
investigating the methods of dealing
with this problem in the leading cities
of Europe. He will make further
studies in several of the larger cities
OF this country. As each of these
studies is completed it will be pub.
lished and until this is done the bu-
reau deems 1t unwise and premature
TO express any conclusions as to a
method of dealing with the social
evil in this city,
Woman Is the Victim.
As to whether the unfortunate
woman is a victim or a contributor
to her own vicious career, Mr.. Rookie
Teller says:
II say unhesitatingly that in the ma
1ority of cases she is the victim.
PROSTITUTION as now conducted in this
country and in Europe is very largely,
mans business, the women are
merely tools in the hands of the
stronger sex. Tt is business run for
profit and the profit is large.
1t Is my belief that less than IS per
cent. of prostitutes of this country
would have fallen if they had had an
life. That they have been dragged
into the mire in such large numbers
is due to a variety of circumstances,
among which are poverty, low wages,
improper home conditions and lack Of
training, the desire to crafty the nat
ural craving for amusement pretty
things, etc. But while all 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 until uaEge and more for
mai organization is considered adyis-
able. To its future financial policy. it
is not now necessary to give attention
As its. needs grow, there are numbers
OF men and women in this city, who
I ana confident. stand ready to join in
meeting them.
while the bureau expects to. pub
lfsh all of it's important studies it is
obvious that it's preliminary. work can
best be done without publicity.
The bureau holds itself ready to
enter any field of investigation which
seems likely to contribute to the main
purpose. for which it has been estab-
lished.''