Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-03-13
Low WAGE DRIVING
WOMEN INTO SIN
Acting Governor o'Hara, Of Hi
nois, Recommends Enactment
of Minimum Wage Law.

women ana girls IN liHuOlS die
struggling along on a weekly stipend
of S. per week or less. There is no adj
vance or relief in sight. From the ranks
of these poor stiflled creatures the I'M
5derworld is recruited. They are the
easy prey of the white slave trafflcker.
On that wage they cannot obtain the
bare necessities of life--to say moth
for iinery
Acting Governor Barrett O'Hara.
basing his conclusions upon facts gath
cred by the senate white slave inyesti-
eating COMMITTEES, declares there are
but two means OF remedying the situa-
ton. CD the enactment of minimum
wage law: (2) the establishment of
other states to cooperate with the
Illinois commission in suppressing the
traffic. To accomplish this. MIR. O'Hara
has sent the following letter to the gov
ernors of the states:
Much of It Interstate.
During the first sessions of a COM
mission to investigate white slave
traffic in Illinois, testimony OF reliable
Witnesses indicated that much of this
despicable traffic is interstate and it
was found that rings existing in Chi
cago worked hand in hand with similar
rings In all of the other states. In spite
OF the rigid attention given to the
Mann act. il apparently has not been
possible to do away with this trade.
The commission in Illinois is work ing
toward the abolition of this evil in
which the state through effective legis
iatlon, is backed by strong popular
sentiment. Our commission will be in
existence for two years
IL. has seemed to us that the most
feasible way of breaking the Interstate
rings would be to have in each state a
commission similar to our own Nat
urally, the Illinois commission can do
nothing with it's information in regard
to white slavery in other states, but
We're there commission in your state
we could and would invite the mem
bers of your commission to sit with
us and in turn we should hope to be
present al some of your sessions In
Ihls way. 1T seems TO me- we could get
to the very root of this problem.
Il should be very glad to have your
cooperation in this matter and should
appreciate statement of opinion from
you at Your earliest convenience
How They Live.
These women we find living in fur
nfshed rooms and absolutely underfed,
according to our Investigators Ii is
safe to say that the great majority of
them since they have become wage
earners don't know What full meal
means. Half of them are living on two
meals day and these meals Of the H.
cent variety. Many of them have to
depend for clothes on what more sue
cessful friends are willing TO give them.
I'm brief. this is the situation Is it
any wonder women go wrong? No
woman is bad at heart: environment is
responsible for "A majority OF crime.
They go wrong because they have TO
live.
"Of course, until our Investigation
has proceeded further and we have in
terrogated the large employers under
oath. I cannot say whether the reports
that are before me are founded On
facts. The commission is determined
to do full justice to employers as We'll
summoned to appear before MS tofnor-
row have been ordered to bring with
them their payrols These rolls should
tell an interesting story
Chicago, March 10.-Edward lIiihnan
Of Hillmans, one of the city, largest
department stores, was the first witness
hefOre9the Illinois vice commission to-
day. The witness thought that there
was in some cases connection be-
tween low wages and immortality
among women.
DO YOU think that a woman viii sell
her virtue before she would starve -
chairman of the commission.
Yes. I do. came the prompt answer.
the first Of the kind from employers
thus far heard.
'ThanlS you. said O'Har:t. apparent
ly surprised at the admission.
Work Bears Fruit.
The work of the Illinois senate vice
commission bore fruit today. when a
letter was received by Chairman Bar
= T1.,,, IL
dent OF Mandel Bros, who was a wit
ness yesterday, stating that he had
raised the minimum wages of juveniles
to 81 The Juveniles are girls between
the ages OF 13 and Is wears, who are
employed on small errands.
Wherever possible. by reason of the
aptness or general fitness of the girl
the wage Will be over 81 In addition
Mandel said following Il suggestion OF
the commission lie would employ an
Investigator to look into the state
ments made by applicants to ascertain
IL they can live on the wages they are
to receive.
Hillman said that ST. girls and WON
en- are employed at his store. OF thesc
46 girls receive IS: "a get 81, % earn
$3.50. and six receive SO. These last are
errand girls mostly brought in by their
parents, who want them to learn the
business so they may advance to higher
salaries, he said.
If one of your SO girls lost her virtue
would 1t hurt your conscienee?" asked
O Hara.
Yes, certainly.
Would you hold yourself respon-
sible?'
Parents Partly Responsible.
Well now let's think. would L.
Here's a girl brought in by her par
ents living at home--should be re-
sponsible? I think not. | think the
parents would be responsible
Hillman spoke distinctly. To the grea,
interest of the spectators. half of whom
We're women who We're unable to heal
most of the testimony yesterday
The witness said he never had heart
of a girl being blacklisted for bad con
duct. but did know of floor walker
who had suffered that fate for immor-
atty.
HillnaA admitted that he was self
made man He started at work at S.
a week as a cash boy.
Gould you live on it?H inquired thu
chairman OF the commission.
Well. my father earned s14 and m,
50 helped out walked to and from
work. y
Readiness 9. the big merchant II
agree with the commission surprised
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