The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-26
Returns From Chicago
Where She Investigated
Methods and Results
SAME SITUATION AS
HERE, ONLY LARGER
In Chicago Authorities Are Working
With Course of Evil, While Here
Effect Is Absorbing
Attertion

Mrs. Wilson Searight. head of the
welfare department of the city, mas
returned from Chicago. where she has
been for the past few weeks inves-
tigating the welfare work that is be
ing carried on in that city Mrs. Sea-
right went to the western city unher-
aided and in the majority of instances
made her Investigations without re-
vealing her identity.
She visited the many institutions
provided for the reclamation of young
girls and of the more hardened women
of the town Mrs. Searight states she
found in Chicago the same conditions,
only on a larger scale, that exists in
Birmingham, but the encouraging fea-
ture was the earnest effort being made
to eradicate the evil In speaking of
her visit Mrs. Searight said
ct is hard for me to say what i'm
pressed me most during my visit, for
saw so many things of interest and
so much earnest work being done for
the girls of that city. found the same
causes of delinquency unhappy homes
low wages. nliteracy. a desire for dress
and the many other causes that lead
TO d girl uOWHIdil, Dul L Also lOuHu
a better system of helping and re-
claiming them than we have. In no in
stance is girl put in jail, for de-
tention rooms are provided in differ
ent parts of the city with women in
charge. Not only that, but they are
tried by a woman, for Miss Bartol-
NEW, one of the finest characters
have ever met is associate Judge of
one of the municipal courts and to
her these girls are sent. The para
mount desire of the welfare workers
of Chicago Is not to punish but to help
and the splendid results of this sys-
tenn is already noticeable.
while we have been dealing with
the effect they have been dealing with
the cause and earnest efforts are be-
ing made to eradicate it, for if the
root of the evil is removed it is OBJ
vious that much better conditions will
prevail l spent some time with Miss
Jane Adams of the Hull House. and
words are inadequate to describe the
great work of that noble woman In
city like Chicago there is so much
of this class of work to do and the
only regret that Miss Adams has is
l.
the Geneva home for wayward girls,
splendid Institution. which, by the
way, is a monument to our Mrs. Amey
of the girls home of this city who
for IL years was in charge of the Ge-
neva home and who was instrumental
in bringing about the system which
has resulted in such fine institution.
THE famous Bridewell or workhouse
is positively a revelation. In appear
ance and in its work it bellies its name.
for better equipped, cleaner or more
efficient institution is not on the Amer
lean continent. The state provides train
ing schools for the girls and older
and taught occupations and when re-
leased to make their own living are
carefully guarded and helped
You asked me what impressed me
most during my visit Possibly it was
the freakish way the women of the So
called better class dressed. While |
never pretend to keep up with fash
ions myself. l do admire woman
Arettily and attractive1y gowned but
! must protest against the way some
OF the women l saw dressed. 1t would
seem that every effort was made to dis
regard ordinary proprieties and replace
them with indecencies and appeals to
has been applied to some of the present
better terms
cessity for detention room in our
city for the girl that falls in evil ways
and hope the time will arrive when