Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-02-07
WOMEN V|CTIM|zED
INTO DECENERACY
Head of Social Hygiene Bureau
Blames Men for Organized
Commercial Social Evil.

New York. Special: Man. not woman,
is responsible for the organized COM
mercial social evil in this country, in
the opinion of John ID. Rockefeller. jr.
1t is a mans business, run for profit.
and the profit is large"
These views are expressed in Il state
ment made public by Mr.. Rockefeller
here. giving further details of the
aims of the bureau of social hygiene,
through which Mr.. Rockefeller and 9TH
er philanthropists hope to attack and
alleviate conditions which he considers
the greatest single menace to the per-
petuatiOn of the human race"
THE idea OF establishing a perman-
ent organization to combat the social
evil in this city" says the statement.
was h outgrowth of my service Of
six months as foreman OF the white
York city at the beginning of 1910.
Vital World Problem.
II came at that time to realize the
extent and horror of the evil and to
believe that II constituted n of the
great and vital world problems OF the
day.
"ln the Judgment of eminent medi-
view OF disease. Inc greatest single
menace to the perpetuation of the hu-
man race. Therefore. as a result Of
conferences with many people. The bu-
Feau OF SOClal hygiene was eStaDllSneO.
Studied Conditions Abroad.
Under the direction of the bureau.
George j.. K%neeland. who conducted the
investigation carried on by the Chicago
vice commission. has made a compre-
henSive study of vice conditions in this
city; and Abraham Flexner has spent
nearly a year abroad, Investigating the
methods OF dealing with this problem
In the leading cities of Europe. He will
makes further studies in a number OF
the larger cities OF this country. AS
each OF these studies is completed, 1t
will be published and until this is done
the bureau deems 1t unwise and prema-
ture to express any conclusions as to u
method of dealing with the social evil
in this city"
Women sinnsd Against.
AS to whether the woman is Il victim
or a contributor to her own vicious ca
reer. Mr.. Rockefeller says:
Il say unhesitatingly that in the vast
majority of cases she is a victim.
Prostitution as now conducted in his
country and In Europe liz very largely
a mans business. the women are mere
~ tools in the hands Of the stronger
sex. II is a business run for profit, ano
the profit Ia large. 1t Is my belief that
less than % per cent OF the prostitutes
in this country YOU have fallen II
they had had an equally goo chance
to lead a pure life. That they have
been dragged into the mire in such
large numbers Is due to n variety of
circumstances. among which are pow
erty. low wages. improper home con-
ditions and lack of training. the de-
sire to crafty the natural craving for
amusement. -retty things. etc.; but
while all of these and many others may
be contributing causes. man is chiefly
responsible for their fall.
Financed BY individuals.
Thus far the work OF the bureau
has been financed by its members and
"a few Interested friends. and this will
continue to be the ease until a larger
and more orma organization il con-
sidered advisable. To It's future fnan-
cial policy. 1t Is not now necessary to
give attention. AS its needs grow,
there are numbers OF men and women
in this city. who. l am confident, stand
ready to Join in meeting them.
While the bureau expects to pub
fish all of its important studies. it liz
obvious that it's preliminary work can
be best done without publicity.
THE bureau holds itself ready to en-
ter any field of investigation which
seems likely to contribute to the main
purpose for which 1t has been estab-
lished."