Evening star., 1914-02-01
TELLS OF CONDITIONS
IN PHILADELPHIA
10 the Editor Of The star

10 the Editor Of The star
AS a resident of Philadelphia wse,e
the red light" problem during the past
ten months has undergone various evo-
lutionary changes in the attempt TO r.
move the den!zens of the tendcroin from
within the portals of that great city,
l am profoundly interested in the call
upon Washingtonians for s25"a0 to pro-
vide employment for those unfortunate
creatures of the segregated district of
your city.
Something less than year ago the
Law and Order Society of philadelphia
inaugurated vigorous campaign agains.
the women of the tenderloin Securing
evidence purporting to show that spirit
uous liquors were being sold in the
houses Of the district. this society. for 10
iitical-no less than humane reasons-pur-
posed effecting coup upon the local
police force bur were frustrated bs
the prompt and energetic action Of the
ever Tgilant police. Two hours before
any warrant could be served upon the
proprtatresses of those esta blishrnents
they had received explicit orders to close
and keep closed.
Chagrined at being thus outwitted after
Society then proceeded to secure perilia-
nent quarantine upon such houses ana
their inmates. By order of Mayor Blank
enburg. guard of officer Tor every
three houses was placed on duty tor
eight consecutive hours. 20 be followed
by another, and still another officer for
eight hours each. SO that a perfect quar-
antine has been established and main
tanned for over ten months in this dis
trict. at, however, an enormous expense
to the tax payers of Philadelphia The
question arises, With what results
has this Quarantine been maintained
Effects of Campaign.
First-Some charitably minded If i'm
practical, dear. old souls suggested the
Offering place of refuge for such OF th..
women as would voluntarily accept their
hospitality. No work. no reconperss,,
other than idly willing away their tini..
between talks on morality and meals An
old mansion in 4 suburb was finally Sc
cured. only after other charitable souls
resented the encroachment upon their
moral atmosphere. and up to date not
one dozen women have availed them
selves of the charity thus rendered them
Second-Many desired to, but few did.
leave the city.
Third-At first most secured rooms
with privileges, which the Law and order
Society as promptly reported.
E'ourth-The smaller hotels We're then
made the camping ground of these WON
en-. but only for time, several such
having since been compelled to change
their hostelries to stag hotels only. or
close.
Finally-These women now resort
either to the back rooms of saloons, TO
restaurants where liquors are sold, with
or without food. or TO the cheaper delica-
lessen stores. and there they form their
acquaintanceS or meet those met in any
one of the various downtown moving
picture houses; that from O'clock
at night until early morning. these poor
creature quarantined by tn. police, and
thus forced out of those establishments
as living abodes. and still nounded bv
own good. but 10 Show up the regular
police force-these women parad.. the
streets all night until early morning
and thus are now a public menace to So
ciety at large. whereas sequestered in
those houses the innocent We're not con
taminated as recent police report
shows to be the case at present. The
gradual withdrawal Of the quarantine is
not strongly urged by many leading men
of Philadelphia
That is the condition as il exists in
Philadelphia today. because of a lack Of
sincere interest in the future welfare of
those unfortunate creatures.
The proposition here, however. to pro
vide remunerative employment for these
women is not only a just and humane.
but d practical solution OF most diff
receive the encouragement and material
support of every right minded man and
woman In Washington.
]. HENRY McCLOSkEY.