The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-04-05

<Edhor's Note.-The startling disap-
pearance two years ago OF their girl
made, so shocked James Lee Laidlaw,
the millionaire New York banker and
his wife. Harriet Burton Laidlaw, that
traffic. Mrs. Laidlaw is now consid-
cred. perhaps, the foremost authority
on this subject in America. She here
writes under her own name an article
on the terrible business OF kidnapping
women.)
BY MRS. JAMES LEE LAIDLAW.
The nationwide agitation for a
minimum wage law for working girls
as a means for suppressing the white
slave traffic is vital to lasting re-
form, but it is not the most direct
step or the first one that should be-
taken.
No minimum wage measure can
protect women from infamy unless
1t be accompanied by honest. decent
municipal legislation.
Where police administration Is
sub-moral the absolute physical lib
erty OF many respectable girls and
girls OF high social position Is men,
aced by criminals who would not, and
do not now. fear to resort to abduc-
ton!
OF the $4,000 girls who disappear
every year large proportion are TAX
en- violently and held in bondage.
While the realization Of the mini
mum wage suggested would shield
some wage-earntng girls from temp
tation, many girls would still be sub
jected to the awful fate of abduc-
ton.
f~I in, hi At1,1o
drop out of existence yearly; pass
from the knowledge of their friends
and families absolutely.
will possibly be accused of sensa-
tiOnalism In stating facts, but these
facts are known.
Why should we hesitate to an
nounce the conclusion?
Under our corrupt city government
girls are being snatched into taxicabs
or kidnapped on the streets. It Is
going on all the time!
Even with wages as low as they now
are the supply of girls is not suffi-
cient. So we cannot look to the
minimum wage alone to solve the
problem.
Not long ago girl was taken from
the streets Of Rochester and brought
to New York. Here she fell into the
hands Of an aid society. Communi-
cation with Rochester proved that
the police there we're looking for her
and her family was distracted. 1t
was only by chance that she was saved
from terrible fate.
But there is tragedy Of the kind
in which the circumstances are even
more fully known to me.
Because of false conception of the
disgrace attached to the matter, be-
cause of the illogical standard that
has grown up about the purity OF
women, the facts in this case have
never been made known. They prob
ably never will be.
It was eight months ago that the
woman-a young wife and mother
was abducted. No trace of her has
ever been discovered and the husban
steadfastly refuses to ask the help Of
publicity. The husband is a promi
nent business man whose home is il
New Jersey.
On certain day he found he hat
some leisure and telephoned his wife
to come over and attend the theater
with him. He was a little late in ar.
irving to meet the train on which
she left her home town, and he die
not find her.
Inquiry among the conductors and
passengers on the train brought GU,
the facts. His wife, Handsomely
gowned for the theater, had boarded
the train. Two men took seats be-
hind her. They told the conductor
that she was travelling with them ant
to pay no attention to her protesta
tons when they paid her fare, as sha
was being taken to an asylum. Sh>