The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-02-06

is completed, it is hoped that Il e
Laboratory will be in position to
recommend the treatment most
likely to reform the individual, or.
! If reformation is impossible, to )es
commend peri a 1t .lstt dial c e,
Furthermore, reaching out beyt d
the individuals involved, it is be-
iieved that thus important contFi-
buttons may be made to a fuller
knowledge of the conditions ulti-
i mately responsible for vice If this
!: experiment is successful, the prin-
ciple may prove applicable to all
tGlasses of criminals and the eoudi-
tons precedent to crime, and lead
to lines of action not only more
scientific and humane but also less
wasteful than those at present fol-
lowed.
In entering upon its labors, the
Bureau regarded it of fundamental
Importance to make careful study
of the social evilin this country and
in Europe, feeling that this problem,
like any other great and Difficult,
one. can be inteIligentiy approached
only by means of a thorough and
complete knowledge of allthe factors
involved, as we'll as all the methods
and experiences of other cities and
countries in dealing with it. Ar
raneements were, made, therefore,
in the early part of last winter to
secure the services of George j.
Kneeland. who had directed the
Chicago Vice Commission investi-
CATION. Since that time, Mr.; Knee
land, with corps of assistants, has
been making thorough and com.
prehensive survey of the conditions
of vice in New York City This
survey has covered not only houses
of prostitution, Raines Law hotels,
disorderly saloons. cafes and restau-
rants, massage parlors and other
places where vicious people congre-
gate, but also the personal histories
of some two thousand prostitutes;
and a study of all the case records
for one year of great majority of
the hospitals and dispensarles in
New York City, with view to as
certaining the prevalence of vene-
real diseases and their ratio to all
other diseases. Mr.. Kneeland's re-
nort isnow in progress of prepare
ton and will be published within
HE next two months.
At the same time, the Bureau was
fortu 1ate in securing the services Of
Abraham Flexner. whose reports On
the medical schools in. this country
and in Europe are SD we'll known,
to study the social evil and the vari
methods Of dealing with it in the
leading cities of Europe. Mr.. Flex
ner spent the greater part Of wear
abroad, making a searching and
exhaustive inquiry into the subject,
and is now working on his report,
which will be ready for publication
this winter.
r.. These studies are to be folio we'd
ny Ottlolo, Ill AiN|oC A'tiSo IL lis |
United States where different condi
tons exist or where special methods
of dealing with the social evil have
been introduced, the object being to
become familiar with all phases of
the subject and all methods of hand
ling it which have been tried in this |
country and in Europe. 4
Based upon all ofthese studies,
which will probably be published t'y
December Of this year, 1t is The hope
of the Bureau that there may be
devised e practical plan for dealing
with the social evil in New Yorh
Citv-a plan which public opinion t
can be brought to support.
in conclusion, it cannot be too
strongly emphasized that the spirit
which dominates the work o: the
Bureau is not sensational or senti-
mental or hystelical; that it is not
spirit of criticism of public officials;
but that it is essentially a spirit If
constructive suggestion and of deep
scientific as well as humane interest
in a great world problem.
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.
For the Bureau of Social Hygiene,
P. q Rlx $40 New YOr!; Civ. /