South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-19
ORGANIZE To
|. SAT EGUARD TRAVEL
National Travellers Aid Society
viii Protect Young Women
On Long Journeys.

\ new foe has entered the lists to
combat the white slave traffic.
Unheralded and unsung but with a
systematic deliberatiOn there is being
organized in this country the National
Travellers Aid society. which is the
outgrOwth of the society organized in
this city by Miss Grace Dodge, phil
anthrOpist and the foremost figure in
the Young Women's National Christian
association, who always has had the
aid of travellers as her special inter
est From the national organization
the movement is expected TO grow I'M
til it is>-fnternational and travelling
will be safe for women and girls in
any part of the world.
The present movement had its in
ceptiOn in this city, and its object is
TO federate all OF the existing agencies
for the protection of women travellers.
Miss Dodge is the principal figure in
the national organization, which is
non-sectarian and Will include the ma
tional bodies Of the Catholic church,
Jewish organizations and the Young
Women's National Christian associa-
ton, representing the Protestant de-
nominations.
Seventeen hundred girls, according
to official reports, disappeared in one
year en- route between New York city
and points west The ugly fact that
is coupled with the knowledge that
, travel has become more dangerous for
unprotected women and girls. The
simplicity of life in the country and
small towns does not tend TO fit wOm-
en- to go alone into the world, for or
ganized vice is daily becoming more
ingenious in its Unsuitable search for
recruits.
Prepare for Exposition.
But the main factor in bringing TO
an issue the federation is the fact that
the Panama canal will open in 1915
and at the same time the Panama eX-
position in San Francisco will get un-
der way The women interested in
the movement declare they must have
| their organization complete by that
time as the tide of travel will be eX-
traOrdinarily great.
1t is asserted that the leaders are
aware that the vice syndicates are
scheming for a harvest in San Fran
| cisco and th canal zone, and the new
conditions have made it clear that no
single organization is capable of cop
| ing with the powers who prey. But
| they will be cOmbated by this new or
ganizatiOn equipped with worldly Sa-
gacity well as pious purpose. Even
the national bodies of radial and de
nOminational character find that their
net of protection is not sufficiently
wide to gather in all who need their
help. and hence the national fedora
| ton that is now being completed.
The Catholics and Jewish societies,
because of them interest in immi-
grants, have been especially alert in
dealing with the question Of aid for
| travellers. and the Young WOmen's
Christian association has made ii a
department for its activity for years.
Those three bodies have decided to
get together and negotiations are now
pending. Ii will be necessary, for in
stance for them to agree to a national
uniform, so that a traveller anywhere
in this country, and ultimately. any
where in the world, will recognize a
! representative of the Travellers Aid
society Their uniform will have to
! be protected by law, for it is charged
| that the agents of vice even appear
at times in the garb of nuns and Sal
walton Army lassies. 1t is believed
that national body could obtain
| ample protective legislation.
Has Wide Field.
| As it was defined before the recent
| convention Of the Young WOmen's
| Christian association. the travellers
| aid deals with the reasons why per-
sons leave home: protects them
through all the vicissitudes and ram
] ifications of travel until they arrive at
their destination: and. if strangers
sees that they are housed safely in
home or respectable boarding house
| or placed in charge of the organization
which is best equipped for their
needs
Here. in miniature" says a writer
J connected with the organization. lis
the sort of work that is proposed for
/ the whole nation. The New York So
| cietv is composed of men and women
! of many religious and philanthrOpic
affiliations. 1t has been kept free
| from charges of sectarianism or per-
sonal interest. The personnel of the
New York society includes represent
atives from the Young Women's Chris
tan association. the Catholic charity
| organizations. the Hebrew societies
| the Kings Daughters. and the railroad
and steamship companies in addition
/ to certain individuals with special
| Qualifications The success of the
New York soc<ty has made it natural
/ that il should be the basis for the ma