The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-28
Chaplain at Anamosa Gives Some
Reasons Why Many Women
Are Found In State
Reformatory.
VANITY IS PRIME CAUSE
Human Hyena, az Chaplain Calls
Him, 10 Another contributory
Reason for This Divere-
Ing from Path.

Some of the causes for delinquency
in women were discussed by Felix IA.
Pickworth, chaplain at Anamosa, re-
Gently before the state board of con-
troll. Some of his observations are
to be found in the following:
In discussing crime We dwell large
ly upon boys and men who are sent
to the penal institutions. We are apt
to overlook the girls and women be-
cause they are fewer, by comparison.
The latest reports show at Fort Madi-
son 594 men, at Anamosa 655 men and
thirty -four women. The per cent OF
women incarcerated in Iowa as com.
pared with the number of men Is in
the relation OF one woman to thirty
six men. Why SO few women? Is it
that judges and county attorneys
avoid, whenever possible, the sending
of woman to Anamosa? Is 1t that
minor charge is substituted so as to
make punishment by fine or jail
sentence meet the case, because OF
some sentiment against Incarceration
OF woman at Anamosa? Under pres
ent conditions at Anamosa. 1t wouiu
be more merciful and more humane to
send woman to Anamosa than to a
Jail. The probable reason for the
small percent Of women who are PEN
allied is that their home duties, In
large degree. remove them from the
temptations incident to the lives OF
men. In the constantly increasing
tendency of girls and women to find
occupation in stores and public places
we must grant that this reason is
likely to lose much Of its force.
Small Minority Drink.
Women sent to Anamosa are genet
ally considered to be Of the more
abandoned and degenerate type.
Drink, idleness and vanity have been
assigned as causes contributing to
their delinquency. 1t is quite as likely
to be morphine, opium or other opiate.
Statistics show that in the last fifteen
years 1877 women have been commit
ted to Anamosa.
OF these. seventeen used liquor moe
erately, six were incorporate and TIA
we're non-users., Fifteen used opium,
1872 did not; thirty-six used tobacco, 161
did not, though I am informed one
third of those received acknowledge
the use of SNUFF, and this is said to
contain cocaine.
With this statement If mind con.
sioer the crimes for which they were
cor mitted. Larceny, As; keeping
houses. As: prostitution, 81; adultery,
%. assault, II; manslaughter, Z; mui-
der, 6: bigamy, 6; incest and lewd-
ness. 8. One is apt to ask, do figures
lie. or did some Of the women lie when
they said they were non-users of al
cohol or opiates?
Vanity Prime Cause.
Tho downfall OF many girl may be
traced to an inordinate desire for
frivolity and pleasure and love OF
dress. This desire may not lead somo
to actual transgression, but 1t certain
ly leads to the edge of the precipice.
The department stores of Chicago,
which a few years ago ordered their
clerks to dress within the limit OF
their salaries, prescribing the use OF
the black skirt and black or white
waist, and placing under ban the use
OF "puffs," face powders, paints. jew
elry and fancy clothes" are to be
for their attempt to save
the innocent girl.
/ am disposed to believe that the
majority of girls want to do right
would rather be moral and virtuous
than Immoral and wanton. There must
be some reason why girls and women
are drawn into the whirlpool Of vice.
Il
The Human Hyena.
One OF the lowest types of degen-
eracy is seen in the man who forces
his young wife to the street for his
personal gain. A number Of women
sent to Anamosa have given this as
the primary cause OF their entrance
upon an immoral life. Not desire Oh
their part. but fear Of and the brutal
by the husband. 1t is sur |
prising to find so many men In prison
who hold the wife to be chattel of
the husband and who are earnest ad-
vocates of the double standard" OF
morality
What shall be done with the delin- |
uuent girl and woman after she has
concluded her stay in states prison!
Many fear to receive them into their
homes. they hesitate to permit them
any contact with the children. What
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