Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-22
100000 FUND IN
ITESLAVE WAR
Special Agent of Department of
Justice Tells of Work Done
to Suppress the Evil.

Washington. Feb. 22.-More than !
1000 men in the United States are en-
gagged in the white slave traffic and |
their names are known to the depart
ment of justice, according to a state |
ment made by Stanley w. Finch, spe- |
cial commissioner of the department, /
who has charge of the government
crusade against this violation of the
law
Mr. Finch, when he appeared before
the house committee on appropriations
in support of an appeal for the appro-
priation of 100000 for the promotion
of the work during the next fiscal year,
told the committee that by direction
of Attorney General Wickersham he
had been devoting his attention ex-
clusively to the white slave movement
during the last year, establishing a
corps of special workers throughout
the entire east.
After hearing his evidence the ap
preparations committee quickly made
the appropriation which was asked.
In many cases." said Mr.. Finch,
''the methods followed by procurers
are hideous in the extreme. When
this work was undertaken by the de-
partment the business of procuring
girls for immoral purposes was get
ting to be one Of the greatest dangers
in this country. In fact it might almost
be said that unless a girl was actually
confined in a room and guarded-ow
ing to the clever devices of these white
slave traffickers-there was no girl,
regardless of her station in life, who
was altogether safe.
! I'VE are now gradually getting this
thing corralled We are getting a line
on the men engaged in the business
and very complete record of the
! houses in which these girls are likely
to be placed"
/ Mr.. Finch said that if the depart
/ ment of justice undertook to enforce
the white slave law along the usual
lines of the enforcement OF laws for
the suppression of vice, it would cost
at least $1,000,000 during the coming
year.
This work now covers IS states"
said Mr.. Finch. 1T includes all the
states east of the Mississippi river ex-
cept part of Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey. New York and the New England
states. We are now extending the
work into Pennsylvania and New York
and also into two states west of the
Mississippi river"
He explained that there are now
employed under his direction by the
department of justice, a white slave
! traffic corps of crusaders. consisting
of ten special agents, 40 supervising
special officers and 100 local officers.
Outside of the cities of New York
and Chicago, said Mr.. Finch. it would
cost the government at least S250,000
to carry forward its white slave cru
SADIE. The fact that it did not cost a
great deal more was because the
corps of nearly 500 local officers are
mostly lawyers who work for only a
nominal salary. Some of them get
$40 month. but most of them only
So or $40 a month, Notwithstanding
the fact that practically all are attor.
., ineys of standing and some of them men
of means. They are in the crusade be
, cause they believe it is of benefit to
the community and to humanity gener.
ally.
, Mr.. Finch said that the government
in this work was not bringing any 'frivo
lous' cases, nor undertaking to prose
cute any cases that should properly be
handled by the local authorities
throughout the country. Thus far as
; result of the campaign. however
there had been 400 convictions. 80 &C
, quittals and $50 cases are pending.
THE expense that the government
is occasioned by this method of enforc
= ing the law is a mere trifie compared
. with the expense the people of the
= country will have to bear in order Il
take care of these girls and in order
= to enforce the state laws and make
: effective the countrywide campaign
now being conducted" said Mr.. Finch
THE white slave work has accom-
plished one thing absolutely. WheI
We began it hundreds of girls were
being held in a state Of peonage. The,
. were being held as white slaves TO
debt. Now, wherever we have pu
our system into operation, every on
Of these girls knows her rights The!
are not being held for debt"