The Washington times., 1914-02-11
By KATE WALLER BARRETT.

from so many different angles. there
could not be such unanimity of opin-
ion, unless there were fundamental
reasons for it.
Every-vice commission has declared
against a segregated district, and has
pronounced il one OF the most dan
gerous and indefensibIe systems of
dealing with the evil. In cities
where such districts have remained
undisturbed for half century, they
have been wiped out. Milwaukee,
which for more than fifty years sup
ported such a section, and boasted OF
the excellent manner in which II was
conducted, has now wiped out this
section.
A score of other cities have done
the same. Surely there must be some
logical basis for this widespread
action supported by the best element
in the different communities. These
commissions have not been composed
of reformers, but Of those who have
done the best constructive work IN
the community, and, surely, their
Investigations should mean some
thing. .:
Inony, is it not well for people VINO
do not agree with this finding, TO
present some tangible and logical
facts in support of their contention,
in favor of a segregated district?
Efforts fthe Law.
TIE old reasons given half a cen
Jury ago. that the ivel would spread
in other sections Of the city, and
that good women would suffer at the
hands of bad men, have been entirely
disproven.
IT has been shown that even
where there is a segregated district;
only certain classes OF men ana
women cCnfine their activities TO
these sections. ,
In the cities where the segreSated
districts have been closed under the
iuiunction and abatement law, every
citizen is interested in protecting MS
neiEhborhood, and he has the mstrn-
ment in his hands to successfully DO
so. II suspicious circumstances are
noted about a stranger moving IN
steps are taken at once TO prevent
determined have the people oeeh
that this should not be, that any
one desiring to move must get per-
NIT from the city to do so.
For a thorough and scientlnc
statement of results which follow inc
closing of such districts in Europe,
1 would recommend to you, the read
ed by the Rockefeller Foundation,
by Dr. Flexner. Here you will md
a statement of facts, that If you
really want to know the truth, Will
most enlightening. Be- the figures
Eathred from the records OF the
police, there is shown that when
segregated districts are done away
with street soliciting. private hotels,
cali houses, and ali other forms OF
vice, common where there is seq
Eregated district and where vice is
winked at by the authorities, have
largely decreased.
Pleas For Segregation.
From the number of letters that
[ have received, one would think that
those interested in the passage OF
the Kenyon bill, expected to do away
at once with the social evil in Wash
ington. The bill deals only with
commercialized vice and is aimed at
the market places of such vice. If
a market place. in a convenient lc-
cation, wellknown and advertisd5,
is an advantage to other lines OF
legitimate business. why should il
not pe a valuable asset TO this kind
of business? If segregation is not
a good thing for this kind of busin-
ness, why is II that those most in
terested in its success, all plead fof
segregation?
Surely no one believes that they
iesire a segregated district to ILL