The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-15

life OF wrong-doing.
The increased number of wome
engaged in social work has brough
about YIN actual knowledge of the
dark side of life that only could b
secured as they made public condi
tions with which they We're beins
brought face to face. The worker.
in the Young Women's Christian as.
ISOLATION, the volunteer visitors fol
the Associated Charities, the organ.
izers of the working girls clubs, are
brought into actual ontac with con-
ditions which when limited at a few
years ago in some reformer's address,
were discredited as hideous night
mares.
Each year these women sociologists
have personal knowledge of many in
nocent young girls who absolutely are
tricked or kidnapped and sold, without
the least power of resistance, into the
most horrible slavery the world has
seen. Even the girls who apparently
sc voluntarily are subjected to in
fluences which only the women who
have studied the social conditions Of
a great city can possibly understand.
Aside from tn. inhuman sacrifice of
these girls themselves, the modern
Woman has the testimony of many
reputable physicians regarding the
horrors of the diseases resultant from
the social evil. These now are so
prevalent hat no man or woman ever
can be sure of not being exposed to
them. Even innocent persons may be-
come diseased for life by the handling
of objects used by those afflicted with
one of these loathsome maladies. The
danger from the public drinking u
is far greater because of these I'M
m~entionable diseases thar the much
talked of tuberculosis. Yet thu most
rigid measures are being taken to
prevent the spread of the great white
plague, while the infinitely more ter
rible "black plague" until recently has
been entirely ignored.
The city hospitals are tceming with
suffering women who 2,e undergoing
the most painful operations which us
ually leave them partially. il rot COM
pletely, crippled for life. According to
the testimony of physicians, fully 80
per cent of the gyneco illogical opera
lions performed upon married women
1 SduScu lie lhSl tiil llhIi
husbands had contracted some form
of tn esocial disease bafore marriage.
Usually the do not know this.
For centuries physicians have been
accustomed to deceive their women
patients regarding their own ailments.
1t is only through the entrance of
Wome into the ranks of physicians
and trained tnures that a full knowl-
edge of these facts became possible to
the average woman Having this
knowledge, it is natural that every
woman having a daughter should wish
to protect her from the possibility of
suffering from this source For this
reason, more than any other, the
women of the country are urging the
issuance of a health certificate before
the granting of a marriage license.
To a large extent, the club women
of the country are entering the cru
sade against the social evil because
they feel that it is a legitimate part
of their work in the care of their
homes. A few of the more conserva-
tive organizations still are hesitating
about giving direct consideration to
the question. But where, 10 years ago,
few clubs would have considered the
words white slave proper to men
ton in a woman's meeting, now the
great general federation itself has
taken up the matter. A committee
upon the social evil is considered as
in the up-to-date Women's
club as that of child welfare.
Many different plans are being made
to combat this great evil and each
is likely to accomplish some good, but
all combined will be insufficient for
a complete victory. The hideous
canker has existed for so long hat
years of active warfare will be re-
duired for it's eradication, but at least
the warfare has begun. A mighty
weapon is to be the education of the
coming generation. Many victims have
fallen through ignorance, SO a cru
SADIE for proper instruction in sex by
giene is being organized throughout
the country. Women, through their
clubs. are paying physicians to in
struct teachers of both sexes upon the
proper methods of imparting to the
children in their care the knowledge
which will enable the INTO protect
in future.
announcer Weapon when the women
are preparing to use is the demand for
an equal standard of morality for
and women. The young man no
longer is to be given the impression
that it is natural and manly for him
to SOW wild oats and that after years
of debauchery he can expect to marry
a good m Girls are being
taught that the duty they owe to
their unborn children demands that
they refuse to risk marriage with men
whose lives have been contaminated.
Parents are beginning to realize that
it is more important that a prospect
i've son-in-law possess a clean body
than a large baink count. In all the
colleges attention is being given to
subject.
Women are making a careful study |
of the causes which lead so many !!
girls astray. The meager VICES paid
working girls are being raised by
women's Influence. The great taboo
which has existed against the erring
is being lifted by her more
sister who has learned that
she has been more sinned against