The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1914-12-07
VICE PRoBERS
SUBMIT REPORT.
Wisconsin Legislative Body
at Work Fifteen Months.
MANY REGULATIONS ASKED

Wage Question Declared Not to Be a
Factor in Woman's Downfall, but
Mans Part in Social Evil Is Called
Despicable and Severe Penalty 10
Urged.
Madison, Wis, Dec. 1.-THE wage
question has no material relation to
girls downfall, the legislative anti
vice committee has concluded after
fifteen months study of the vice prob
lem in Wisconsin, An exhaustive re-
port Of the investigation was filed
with the secretary of state
The chief cause of commercialized
vice, the report says, is the use of
intoxicating liquor. Contributory
causes are public dance halls, road
houses, poorly lighted parks and pub
lie places, lack of responsibility by
parents, nonenforcement of laws, lack
of public amusement, recreation ia
cilities and automobiles.
"The mans part in the social evil"
the committee says, lis despicable
and mean enough to merit the harsh
est terms of reproach and disgust.
The exploiter of the body and soul OF
woman for money gain is worthy to
be the lowest outcast in society, rath-
er than the weak or ignorant or un'
fortunate person exploited The pen
alties for such explorations must be
made most severe and must come with
absolute certainty upon conviction
Single Moral Standard Urged.
The double standard of morality is
blamed for the diff Guilty in reforming
public morals and women are called
upon to demand and by their moral
influence to enforce a single standard
for both sexes.
Domestics, owing to their denial Of
natural opportunity for social con-
tact, are found most susceptible to
downfall. The committee recon-
mends:
That a morals court be established
in cities of the first class with ex-
elusive Jurisdiction over all cases in
volving moral Offenses.
That law similar to the Mann act,
applicable between cities, villages and
towns of the state, be enacted.
That a permanent state police de-
partment be established in this state
with power to investigate and enforce
the law where local officers fail to
do it.
That the sale of liquor be prohibited
within or in connection with dance
halls.
That liquor license may be auto
matically revoked upon a plea of gull
ty or conviction for violation of any
moral law.
Abolish Private Drinking Rooms.
That stalls, family entrances and
private winerooms be prohibited in or
in connection with saloons.
That public dance halls be licensed
and under supervision of police.
That policewomen be appointed in
every city of the first, second or
third class.
That the age of consent be raised
from fourteen years in the case of any
female and eighteen years in the case
of female of previous chaste char
acter, to eighteen and twenty-one
years respectively.
That the industrial home for women
be established and women convicted
of immoral practices be committed
thereto.
That in cities of the first three
classes special classes for subnormal
children be established in the public
schools and that the state furnish free
textbooks, meals and clothing to
needy children to make compulsory
education effective.
That employers of domestic serv-
ants be required to furnish them with
a suitable room in which to receive
company, and that their hours of Ia
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