Evening star., 1914-01-31

efai speakers pleaded the cause of the
fallen girls
The work of collecting funds for the
movement by the Social Welfare League
was continued. and arrangements were
made for mass meetings tomorrow after
noon at 30 o'clock at Polls Theat.r
and the First Congregational Church, 10th
ana u streets The subject is also to be
| churches.
In the Police Court the movement t.
employ the fallen girls at - week was
made the subject of comment by Judge
Fnsh. VIII" said that many respectable.
girls are receiving less
Decision Not Announced.
Delay on the part of the Commissioners
IN announcing what action they propose
10 take OH tn" request that they appoint
committee Of citizens to study the con
d1tionS of emergency growin, out of the
enforcement of the Kenyon bill gave rise
to the belief III local government circles
today that the District heads do not
favor the plan.
The matter was discussed at a boa rd
conference this morning and a conclusion
reached. il was understood, though the
commissioners decided to withhold an
nouncement of their attitude until later.
II is probable that they will make known
their position through the president of
the board late TO-DAY
Request for appointment of d commit
tee was communicated to the District
authorities yesterday afternoon bv a
number of civic workers headed by the
Rev. Wilber V. Mallalieu. 1t was made
as the result of a plan agreed upon at
meeting of representatives of a num-
per OF organizations held at the Young
Womens Christian Association yester-
day to discuss the situation resulting
from the passage Of the Kenyon bill
1t Is understood that the Commissioners
We're asked to name a committee of forty
and that the names of a number of prom
fnent citizens were proposed for places
on the so-called red light" board.
Would Give Them a Chance.
People who are protesting against the
girls from the division going into resi-
dence section of the city for employ
ment We're scored in an address by Stan
ley W. Finch. organizing director of the
National Social Welfare League, before
the Federation of Women's Clubs of the
District of Columbia at the Public Ii
brary today.
A girl has just as much privilege
as man, ne said Some people don't
want these girls who are trying to re-
form to work next door to their homes
or even to be in the same block where
they reside, but there are lots OF men
IN that same block whom these people
do not object to, but who have done
wrong and are not trying to do better =
Mr. FINCH stated that the sentiment in
that line is changing for the better and
that the people are looking at it in a
dinerent way He said the present prob
i-Hl IS, W nat are We going to do with
these girls? Forty applications have
been received by Mr.. Finch he stated
from girls who want work
He said that in some cities girls
nave moved from the segregated dis
trlcts into the residential section with
an idea of reforming. but have been
unable TO do so because people found
out that they were formerly inmates
OF houses IN the red light district
and took means to drive them from
the neighborhood.
Work in Another City.
Taking up the question of the estab-
lishment of a factory in Washington
Where girls from the red light dis
trict could be employed. Mr. Finch said
that II any of the girls said they were
to work in this city, they would be sent
10 another city where similar factory
had been started and that they would be
given employment there.
lie also said it will be the similar case
In other cities. some girls will be brought
here and placed in the factory He said
that many people have entered protests
against the establishment of such a fac
tory i'll Washington. IF there is a gen.
eral sentiment against the factory he
said. lit will not do
What is to become of these Two hum
dred and fifty girls of the division?'' said
Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett. president of
the Florence Crittenton Home. ..is the
principal question before US We should
have started twenty-five years ago to do
this work.
Mrs. Barrett said that she had talked
to many OF the girls and that some of
them told her it was too late to save
them. But | told them it was not too
/ late she said. II told them that We
intended to study their cases. study their
cast and that punishment must nor fit
the crime. but must fit the individual
| Rev. Albert II. Zimmerman also made
brief address in which he CAV figures
of the number of prostitutes in the first
ba yesterday, AS he had obtained them
| from Maj. Sylvester. chief of police
/ There were III inmates in these houses
OF the hrst precinct. he said. About
sixty nave left the city, and their where
abouts are not known. Twenty-one of
them say they want employment and will
reform if given the opportunity, and 1:..,
say they will leave the city. There are
seventy-one who have not concluded what
they will do"
Mrs. Wilson Early Arrival.
! Mrs. Wilson. wife OF the President ar
rived early at the meeting and was es-
corted through the library by Dr. George
F. Bowerman. the librarian She re-
manned throughout the meeting and was
presented with an American beauty rose
by Mrs. Ellis Logan, president of the
| District Federation of Women's Clubs. in
a speech in which she was thanked for
attending the meeting.
DIR. Bowerman offered a resolution.
which was adopted. that the District
| Commissioners be requested to appoint a
committee of citizens Of the District of
Columbia which will aid In the move
| ment toward caring for the girls from the
| red light district
i ..Aeln the girls. sII. r