Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-09-27
NEW SOCIETY FOE
TO WHITE SLAVERY
National Travellers Aid Society
viii Protect Women on
Journeys.

Unheralded and unSung, Dut WIN
systematic deliberatlon there Is be-
ing organized In this country the Ma.
tional Travellers Aid Society, which
is the outgrowth Of the society or
ganized by Miss Grace Dodge, phlian.
thropist and the foremost figure in
the Young Women's National Chris
ton Association, who always has had
the aid Of travellers as her special
interest From the national organl-
cation the movement Is expected to
grow until it is international and
travelling viii be safe for women and
girls in any part Of the world
The present movement had its in
eeption in New York, and its object
is to federace all of the existing
agencies for the protection Of wom.n
travellers. Miss Dodge is the prn-
cipal figure In the national organiza-
ton. which is non-sectarlan and will
include the national bodies of the
Catholic church, Jewish organizations
and the Young Women's National
Christian Association, representing
the Protestant denominations.
Seventeen hundred girls according
70 official reports, disappeared in one
year en- route between New York
city and points west The ugly fact
that the white slave trade is reality
lis 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.
women to go alnae into tie world,
for organized vice is daily becoming
more ingenious in its Unsuitable
search for recruits.
But the main factor in bringing to
an issue the federation is the fac
that the Panama Canal will open in
1915, and at the same time the Pan.
anna Exposition In San Francisco will
get under way. The women interest
ed in the movement declare they must
have their Organization completed by
that time, as the tide of travel viii be
extraordinarily great.
It is asserted that the leaders are
aware that the vice syndicates are
scheming for a harvest in San Fran
cisco and the canal zone, and the Aew
conditions have made 1t clear that
no single organization is capable OF
coping with the powers who prey"
But they will be combatted by this
new organization equipped with
worldly sagacity as well as pious pur-
pose. Even the national bodies of
radial and UNCONVENTIONAL character
find that their net of protection is
not sufficiently wide to gather in all
who need their help, and hence the
national federation that is now being
completed.
The Catholics and Jewish societies.
because of their 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 1t a
department of its activity for years.
Those three bodies have decided to
get together and negotiations are
now pending. 1t will be necessary,
for instance, for them to agree to a
national uniform. so that traveller
anywhere in this country, and ulti-
mately anywhere in the world, Will
recognize a representative of the
Travellers Aid Society Their uni
form will have to be protected by
aw. for it is charged that the agents
Of vice even appear at times in the
zarb Of nuns and Salvation Army
lassies. 1t is believed that a nation
al body could obtain ample protec-
live legislation.
AS it was defined before the recent
convention Of the Young Womens
Christian Association, the travellers
aid deals with the reasons why per
sons leave home; protects them
! through all the yicissitudes and ram
| fcations of travel until they arrive
At their destination; and, il strang
ers, sees that they are housed safely
IN home or respectable boarding
house, Or placed in charge of the or
ganizatlon which is best equipped foi
their needs
Here in miniature" says a writer
connected with the organization, lis
he sort Of work that is proposed fol
the whole nation. The New York so
ciety is composed OF men and women
Of many religious and philanthropic
affiliations It has been kept free
from charges of sectarianism or per