The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-01-31


the past ten or fifteen years was that
most OF them were temporary. While
active, they materially improved the
situation, but as their efforts we're re-
laxed. there came the inevitable re-
turn to much the same condition as
before. The forces OF evil are never
greatly alarmed at the organization
OF investigating or reform bodies, for
they know that they are generally
composed OF busy people, who can
not turn aside from their own affairs
for any great length OF time to car
ry on reforms. and that sooner or
later, their efforts will cease, and the
patient denizens OF the underworld
and their exploiters can then reap
pear and continue the traffic as for
merly.
So the conviction grew that in or
der to make a real and lasting i'm
provement in conditions, a permanent
organization should be created, the
continuation OF which would not be
dependent upon a temporary wave OF
reform, nor upon the life OF any man
or group of men, but which would 20
on, generation after generation. CON
inuously making warfare against the
forces of evil. II also appeared that
a private organization would have.
among other advantages, a certain
freedom from publicity and polit-
ical bias, which publicly appointed
commission co uld not so easily avoid
Therefore, as the initial step. in
the winter of 1911 The Bureau q
Social Hygiene was formed Its pres
ent members are Miss Katherine Be
ment Davis, Superintendent of the
Women, at Bedford Hills, New York:
Paul NJ. Warburg, OF the firm of
Kuhn. Loeb & CO.; Starr J. Murphy.
Of the New York Bar; and John d.
Rockefeller, Junior As the worl, de-
yelops new members may be added.
One of the first things undertaken
By the Bureau was the establishment
at Bedford Hills, adjacent tothe re-
formatory, a Laboratory of Social
| Hygiene, under Miss Davis direction.
In this laboratory. IL IS proposed 10
study from the physical. mental, so
clal and moral side OF each person
committed to the Reformatory. This
study will be carried on by experts
and each case will be kept under Oh
seryation for from three weeks TO
three months, as may be required
When the diagnosis is completed. II
It hoped that the Laboratory will be
In position to recommend the treat
ment most likely to reform the indi-
yidual. or. II reformation is impossi-
bic, 10 recommend permanent custo-
dial care. Furthermore. reaching out
beyond the individuals involved. e. Is
believed that thus important contri-
buttons may be made TO fuller
knowledge of the conditions ultimate
| ly responsible for vice. If this expert
/ ment Is successful, the principle may
prove applicable 10 all classes OF Grim
inals. and the conditions precedent
/ TO crime. and lead to lines Of action
not only more scientific and humane
but also less wasteful than those at
present followed
In entering upon It's labors, the
/ Bureau regarded Il OF fundamental
| importance to make a careful study
OF the social evil In this country and
in Europe. feeling that this problem,
like any other great and difficult one
can be intelligently approached only
I by means OF a thorough and com
/ plete knowledge OF all the factors in
yolyed. as well as all the methods
and experiences OF other cities and
countries in dealing with IL. Arrange
ments were made therefore in the
early part OF last winter 20 secure
the services Of George J Kneeland,
who had directed the Chicago Vice /
Commission investigation. Since that
time Mr. Kneeland with a corps OF
assistants has been making a thor I.
ough and comprehensive survey OF .
the condition OF vice IN New York .
City. This survey has covered not .
only houses OF prostitution, Raines .
Law hotels. disorderly saloons, cafes, h
and restaurants. massage parlors .
and other places where vicious PEG .
pI congregate. but also the personal .
histories OF some two thousand pros
titutes: and a study OF all the case
records for one year OF a great ma
iority Of the hospitals and dispen-
saries In New York City. with a view
to ascertaining the prevalence Of We
nereal diseases and their ratio to all
other diseases. Mr. Kneeland's report