The Detroit times., 1914-01-23
|FLEXNER FLAYS
EUROPEAN PLAN
OF VICE LAWS
Rockefeller Research Worker
Says Old World Regulation
is Failure
SAYS POLICE CONTROL
Y ONLY INTENSIFIES EVIL.
Declares Prostitution Means An
nual Cost to German Empire
of 100000

XIft M y tOsVVNsVVN
A popular fallacy is shattered by
pr. Abb aham FleXncr in his book on
xhe social evil abroad, called "Prosu
\ tuition in Europe. just published by
the Century Company, for ne proves
y that the so-called and Wanted regula
ton there of the scourge is no regu
lation al all--that 1t fails absolutely
OF its purpose
This volume, the second issued by
d the Rockefeller bureau OF social hy
n giene, is prefaced by John d. Rookie
"a teller, Jr.. himself He calls this iu.
vestigation step in advance OF the
first book, which dealt with the com
mercialized evil in New York alone
For nearly two years Or. FleXneT
Il studied the problem in the big cities
n abroad Says Mr.. Rockefeller
E Though he has in no way taken
NJ America into consideration, the facts
he has assembled Will be highly per
ttnent to any discussion in this coun-
r. try as TO the merits OF proposed leg
islation.
He shows that the cost of tho so
H Cial evil, near and remote, direct and
N 4uuiItEl, OuAIuls any CdlNhidi ION ttltt
one would dare to formulate"
He shows that the practice OF in
scribing women is really only an oil
n fetal step plunging them irretriev.
ably into the abyss,
II He makes ii clear that police and
81 official partnership with the traffic
is a supreme stumbling block 10 its
I elimination.
IL ~
missions in this country proved that
n low wages is not the cause Of this
Il vice and he lays stress on the need
OF laws well drawn and we'll exc
II, cuted 10 uproot this plague OF man
n kind.
H "Any civilized community" he says.
81 "utilizing the resources and instru-
81 mentalties that every such society
FL has within its reach can. If really so
n minded. ultimately reduce prosti-
81 Triton and Its ravages IL Is worth
N doing 1t is humanely speaking a
n possible undertaking"
a DR.. Flexner reviews conditions in
a Paris, Vienna Hamburg. Munich,
N Stockholm Berlin and other cities.
Il He quotes as to the cost OF the evil
n 10 Germany thus.
u
a cost 20 the German Empire at some.
Y tHinE between $4,000 600 and 1925,
Il 100000. This outlay may be con
q tr4sted with that spent by the Prus
n rsan Government on It's entire educa
n fional system its universities, sec
andary schools elementary school
sEetem. teacnical and professional
IN titnt'ons ~ al Aiuds INVOLVING a
ft4. 1pp IN
s. 1000 000
hEposed on society by prostitution is
c2mparabiy With that due to stand
ing armies, MGr or pestilence"
IN Europe. more than here. this
terrible menace has been regarded
only as it affects women. Male
cOntinence, says Or. Flexner. has
not been required either by tradition
n or opinion. A low regard for women
has practically left the matter one
~ to be regulated by men on such
~ prove.
A change Of attitude and opinion
Els, however, undoubtedly taking place.
III. Europe has been a man s
2xorld.'
5ftraffic, and proves that the majority
1f0f those women who choose the
a easiest way does so because OF men
{ttal weakness or laziness Figures
sbearing out this truth led DR. Branth-
4fwaite TO write: There is almost
j 'consistent evidence here of some
! causative relationship between mem
Stal defect and the social evil. OF 1870
mn, an in, nric In
IHfTom alchoholic families and two
! ithirds of them were mentally weak"
~ Concerned as we are for the uplift
4 2of the race the one great question
& *persists: Can this evil be elimin.
13sted, and If so, how?
M DIR. Flexner thinks Il can. but not
&fby the European system OF regula-
zion, which does not regulate. nor by
4licensing, which means endless
|fIicense.
"What would happen" he asks.
Tin a city like London IL the police
4spurred and controlled by an active
*Dopular impulse, accomplished all
khat could be humanity expected?
Wtreet walking OF a provocative char
{acter would disappear, the advertised
|3brothel- would cease to exist: the
onforce the law. the obvious forms
~ spurious employment would be dis.
Dersed; street Walkers would disap.
DeAr from the lobby and promenade
fDf the variety theatres. err.
Insofar as the evil is the out
5oome OF mental or moral detect. laws
<6hd police are powerless; only the in.
keiIigent guardianship OF the State
Eeill avail.
I'm SO far as 1t is the outcome oil
Natural impulse denied a legitimate
&xpression, only rationalized seeing
1Ife will really forstali il.
''Insofar as IL Is due TO alcohol, to
Ulcgitimacy, 10 broken homes. 10 bad
W1mes, TO low wages. 60 wretched In.
)ustrial condition. any or ala Of
X)t particular phenomena respecting
Kbich the modern conscience il be.
toining ssnsitiye--0niy transiorma.
Hon wrought by education. relation
&<ience. sanitation, enlightened and
or-reaching stateawanship can effect
II cure"