Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-31


perintendent Of the New York state re-
formatory for women at Bedford Hills.
New York; Paul M. Warburg, Of the
firm Of Kuhn, Loeb & company; Starr
J. Murphy, Of the New York bar; and
John d. Rockefeller. Junior. As the
work develops, new members may be
added.
One Of the first things undertaken by
the bureau was the establishment at
Bedford Hills adjacent to the reforma-
tory, Of laboratory Of social hygiene
under Miss Davis's direction. In this
laboratory, 1t is proposed to study from
the physical, mental, social and moral
side each person committed to the re-
formatory. This study will be carried
on by experts and each case win be
kept under observation for from three
weeks to three months. as may be re-
quired. When the diagnosis IL COM
pleted, 1t is hoped that the laboratory
win be in position to recommend the
treatment most likely to reform the
individual, or. II reformation 10 impos-
sible. to recommend permanent custo-
dial care. Furthermore, reaching out
beyond the individuals involved, II is
believed that thus important contribu-
tions may be made to fuller knowl-
edge Of the conditions ultimately re-
sponsible for vice. II this experiment
is successful, the principle may prove
applicable to all classes Of criminals and
the conditions precedent to crime, and
lead to lines of action not only more
scientific and humane but also less
wasteful than those at present follow
ed.
In entering upon Its labors, the bu-
reau regarded It Of fundamental impor-
tance to make careful study OF the
social evil in this country and In Eu-
rope, feeling that this problem. like any
other great and diflcult one, can be In
telligently approached only by means
Of a thorough and complete knowledge
of all the factors involved, as well as
all the methods and experiences Of 9TH
er cities and countries in dealing with
1t. Arrangements were made, therefore
in the early part Of last winter to Sc
cure the services Of George ]. Knee
land, who had directed the Chicago
Vice Commission investigation. Since
that time, Mr.. lSneeland, with corps
Of assistants, has been making q thor
ough and comprehensive survey Of the
conditions of vice In New York city.
This survey has covered not only
houses Of prostitution, Raines Law no.
tells, disorderiy saloons, cafes and res
taurants, massage parlors and other
places where vicious people congregate,
but also the personal histories Of some
two thousand prostitutes; and q study
Of all the case records for one year Of c
great majority of the hospitals and
dispensaries in New York city. with a
view to ascertalning the prevalence Of
venereal diseases and their ratio to all
other diseases Mr.. Kneeland's report
is now In progress Of preparation and
will be published within the next two,
months. 49, z
AT the same time, the bureau was
fortunate In securing the services Of
Abraham F1exrer, whose reports on
the medical schools in this country
and In Europe are so well known. to
study the social evil and the various
methods CT dealing with It in the lead
Ing cities Of Europe. Mr.. Fiexner spent
the greater part of year abroad. max
Ing a searching and exhaustive inquiry
into the subject. and is now working on
his report, which will be ready for pub
hcation this winter.
These studies are to be followed by
others In those cities in the United
States where different conditions exist
or where special methods Of dealing
with the social evil have been intro
duced, the object being to become ia
miliar with all phases Of the subject
and all methods Of handling It which
have been tried in this country and In
Europe.
Based upon all Of these studies. which
will probably be published by Decem-
Der Of this year. 1t is the hope Of the
bureau that there may be devised
practical plan for dealing with the So
cial evil In New York city-a plan
which public opinion can be brought TO
support.
In conclusion, II cannot be too strong
ly emphasized that the spirit which
dominates the work Of the bureau is
not sensational or sentimental or hys-
terical; that 1t IL not spirit Of criti-
cism Of public officials; but that 1t is
essentially spirit Of constructive sug-
gestion and Of deep scientific as well as
humane interest in a great world prob
lem.
John d. Rockefeller, Jr.
For the Bureau Of Social Hygiene.
P. o. Box 579, New York City.