The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-28

He simply gives the facts regarding European
conditions, and draws very brief conclusions.
but the following quotation taken from his
closing chapter fairly represents his position
Whatever ono may hold to ultimate dealings
with the subject it is clear that prostitution
Is at any rate a modfable phenomenon. For
example. no matter what conditions exist at this
moment, they are capable of aggravation. If
bordells are established and allowed a free hand
In procuring inmates and business, II COM
munity ceases to be concerned TO the con-
ditions of the streets, as to the conduct of the
liquor and amusement traffic. there IS doubt
that under these circumstances the number of
prostitutes and the volume of business trans
acted by them would at once increase, ard, in
consequence. also the amount of waste and dis
ease traceable thereto
THE converse of the proposition is equally
true. If prostitution and its evils can by social
arrangements he increased, they also by
social arrangements be lessened. If unham-
pered exploitation and prominence make mat
ters worse. then Interference with exploitation
and prominence make matters better l am
not suggesting that such interference has
limited possibilities Making every allowance,
however. / believe that the student of prostitu-
zion in Europe is warranted in declaring that
with the suppression of bordels. and of the
white slave traffic, and the maintenance OF i'm
proved external order, substantial amount of
good has been omplshed."
Mr.. Flexner does not of course, think that
suppression Is going 10 solve the whole problem
Of vice; nobody thinks that; a vast social prob
lem still remains, but one could state more
strongly than Mr. Fexner has done the reasons
for policy of suppression. by every possible
means, He says:
What would concelvably happen in a city
like London if the police spurred and con-
trolled by an active popular impulse accom-
plished all that could he humanity expected?
Street walking of provocative character would
disappear the advertised brothel would cease
to exist; the public house (salonn) would
strictly enforce the law against the harborng
OF prostitutes the obvious forms of spurious
employment would be dispersed. rendered more
circumstances and much less readily accessible.
prostitutes would disappear from the lobby
and promenade Of the variety theaters. etc
The pimp, the exploiter the tnird-party inter
est would be severely checked and with that
the tropical growth due TO them. The in
ducement 10 enter the life or to persist in it
would be lessened the total volume of business
and the volume transacted by any one woman
would be decreased; the final waste would be
less; the Generalization of the woman would
often be less complete. less overwhelming less
lrretrievahle; surely very important gains
Wei drawn, we'll codied, we'll executed laws
could accomplish this Any civilized society
utilizing the resources and the instrumental
ties that every such society has within its reach
can If really minded. ultimately reduce pros
ttuiion and it's ravages so far by direct ac-
ton"
So much for Mr. Flexher. As to the problem
Of the feebleminded regarding which the on
he said that the friends of the bill stand ready
to 10ln in any sincere movement To make State
provision for the feebleminded, but that we are
not willing that that provision shall no in the
recognition OF the public brothel and in the
continuation Of the red light district which Is
dailE getting recruits from among this helpless
class In their behalf every sense of Justice
ana pity demands that a system be outIa wed
mat depends so largely for it's existence UPON
the rum and the Characterization of the
shame of these helpless members Of societv
me conclusion cannot he escaped that for the
pubic 10 countenance the red light district ia
in effect for the public to ally itself with the
procurer.
Inc Chicago city council of nine has stated
the case; THAT commercialzed vice has No
rights that ought TO be respected and conserved
that red light or segregated district means A
recognition OF commercialized vice and implies
permitted or iegazed vice traffic: that the ex-
lsfence of such district furnishes m open mar
ket for the white slave traffic; that segregation
does not segFegate. nor does regulation regulate
Abundant evidence furnished that all eff
forts IN Chicago or elsewhere to restrict the
business within given have always re-
suited IN its spreading to other districts the
recognized district becoming a feeder for other
neighborhoods."
JOHN w SHACKFORD