The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-19
WHITE.SLAVERY
REPORT PUBLIC
Vice Firmly Established on
Commercial Basis, Says
) investigator.
STATISTICS ARE GIVEN
Organization Of Which John D. Roeks-
Teller, j., Is Head Gives Faets On
New York Underworld.
STATISTICS ARE GIVEl

New York, May 1s.-white slavery and
prostitution In the city of New York are
firmly established upon commercial
basis and those engaged in the purchase
and sale Of women are thoroughly or
ganized, according to the report Of George
J. Kneeland, of the Bureau of Social
Hygiene, of which John d. Rockefeller
jr.. is chairman, made public here to-
Cay and soon to be published In book
form.
Investigators of the Bureau OF Social
Hygiene found that an immoral life was
not often the alternative of starvation.
They did learn, however. that the great
fnreponderance of women leading the lives
OF prostitutes came from the ranks OF
those engaged IN unskilled occupations.
Hundreds OF immoral resorts of every
character were investigated. II is the
estimate OF Mr. Kneeland that there are
not less than 1900 women engaged in
prostitution in New York City, a very
men who meet these women every day
exceeds 10000.
Formed by Rockefeller.
The bureau of social hygiene grew out
Of the white slave grand jury investi-
cation of 1907. John D. Rockefeller, jr..
was chairman OF that grand jury. which
reported that no evidence of organized
vice could be found. The bureau Of So
cial hygiene, however, found plenty of
evidence of the organization Of those en-
gagged in procuring women and those
engaged in selling them.
"Commercialized Prostitution in New
York City" Is the title of Mr.. Knee
lands work. II Is the first OF a series
of publications to be issued by the Blu
reau of Social Hygiene, each one of
which is to describe vice conditions as
they exist in New York City and else
where.
The tabulation of immoral women by
the bureau showed that 6.759 were found
in the streets, where they piled their
trade. and s,l67 were found in houses of
ill-fame, tenements, massage parlors,
hotels, saloons. concert halls, &c.
Vice a Business.
Regarding the men engaged in the ter
rible business, Mr.. kneeland says:
Most OF them have been engaged all
their lives in the exploitation Of women.
Their tracks are followed through Ar
gentina Brazil. Cuba, Canada, Alaska,
and the large cities of our own country,
San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma,
Butte. Denver, Omaha. st. Louis. Chi
cago. Pittsburg. Philadelphia; finally they
realize their hopes in New York City.
Here they nave ,made a center ana from
this center they go back over the old
trail from time to time"
In making his Investigations Mr.. Knee
land did not confine himself to New York.
With a trained body Of social invesrf-
gators and detectives he probed into the
underworlds of Chicago, Philadelphia,
and Syracuse. Subsequent reports will
deal with these cities and with other
parts Of New York City. The report
made public today deals only with Man
haitian.
From the report by Mr.. Kneeland IT is
evident that not only those actually en-
gagged in vice as a business are banded
together. but that the proprietors OF
establishments, such as saloons. con-
cert halls. a certain class of cabaret
shows, dance halls, burlesque theaters.
amusement parks, and excursion boats
make an open business Of catering to
vice.