New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-21
UNDERWORLD WOULD AID
IN SOLVING SOCIAL EVIL
Fallen Women Favor Taking
Problem Entirely Out Of the
Hands Of the Police.
SEGREGATION ADVOCATED
Social Welfare or Morals Com
mission Suggested as Best
Solution to End Craft
Pathetic Plea for Help.
[Ry Telegraph TO The TrIbune


Albany March 20.-A cry from the out
casts Of the underworld, pleading for an
opportunity to cooperate in the efforts
being made TO solve the social evil ques-
ton, is expressed in letters made public
tonight by Senator Robert +. Wagner.
chairman Of the Committee on Remedial
Police Legislation. which has been con-
sdering New York city police affairs. TO
show that fallen women advocate a So
cial welfare or morals commission to
handle this problem. instead of letting IT
remain within police Jurisdiction This Is
one of the chief points OF difference be-
tween the views Of this special legislative
committee and the Curran aldermanic
committee, which has conducted thor
ough investigation Of the police situation
and TO the work OF which many Of the
police disclosures are due.
The Wagner committee, which was or
dered to report by to-day, has had its life
extended II intends 10 hold several more
meetings Senator Wagner says the body
hoped TO report within a week. These
extracts from some Of the letters received
by the committee. that body says. take
pressed by many women Of the under
world who talked 10 committee members.
The women contend that their troubles
and police graft are due largely to pub
lie ignorance Indifference and unwilling
ness to make an honest effort to solve
this problem.
They say that they have been driven
from one place 20 another through spas
mode reforms" but this has only re-
suited in spreading prostitution all over
the city or in driving women from resorts
whore they were reasonably comfortable
and tn some degree unobjcctionable TO the
public. on 10 the streets where they were
menace 10 all. In effect their argument
is for segregation with regulation by
non-polico body. and restriction Of pros
tuition. They insist that they can be
Of assistance t. the city II permitted to
cooperate in their own way toward re-
strictins and segregating the social evil.
They hold that this phase Of the situation
IN New York CITY IS the sourse OF all
sraft Thcy argue in support OF the plan
presented by the Citizens Committee TO
the legislators proposing social welfare
commission, and pledge themselves To be
Of greater value to such a committee than
all of the social and civic bodies In New
York
Plea for Sensible Action.
1t is time for such an enlightened city
as New York to handle the subject prsc-
tlcally and sensibly," SAYS one woman.
And not make any attempt u drive UNI
fortunate women from homes that give
annoyance TO no one. 70 the streets and
20 the cutters and 70 help swell the army
of streetwalkers.
Another woman wrote:
II am representing thousands upon
thousands OF unfortunate girls that are
without homes: some are working for
starvation wages: some are selling their
souls TO keep off starvation and cold.
Cannot something be done TO keep them
from being driven from place TO place?
| have endeavorei To portray how the
other half live. hold that the ostracized
women whom | represent are beneficial
10 society at large. Therefore society
should protect them. while the keepers OF
resorts should be compelled To protect
those who come Immediately under their
supervision in their respective households.
| can prove from both ancient and mod
ern history that the ostracized class have
always existed, and Notwithstanding they
have been prosecuted. imprisoned. hanged
and dashed a the whipping post yet they
have lived and at times hourished in all
ages and under all conditions and cir
cumstances. These women are much like
other women. where all grades are to be
found I'm their ranks. some good. some
bad and others very bad Ny experience
is that the outcast women OF society have
cole of morals and are honest in the
majority. The better half would be sur
prised To know of the self-sacrihces that
many OF these women make for those
who are dependent upon them for sus-
tenance. and almost every girl has one or
more dependent upon her for support"
This woman declared that all classes OF
girls drifted into the business. from high
est TO lowest. Il have had girls in my
houses who had royal blood in their
veins" she boosted. and added that some
OF my most Intimate lady friends were
daughters of well known clergymen OF
Chicago. Philadelphia. New York and
Boston.
Suggest Solution Of Problem.
Another woman writes: