Omaha daily bee., 1914-04-05

Il y
-. agent has come out from bo-
hind the ambush OF the moral
Sa quality of the play, and
frankly admits that II Is a proponent OF
socialism. As such it was readily recog-
nized during its first stay In Omaha, and
as such IL Is likely 10 go on it's way,
shouting the well-worn arguments of the
soap-box orator against the economic in.
justice OF the age Viewed in this light,
the existence OF the play becomes TO
some degree explicable. That it's premise
is false will not in anywise deter it's ad-
herents. II trumpets the cry against the
unequal distribution OF wealth, the revolt
against low wages. and the various other
causes for dissatisfaction that are com
planned OF. and in this way It gains the
appreciation OF those who feel themselves
uneduaily placed in the race OF life. As
note OF protest. "The Traffic" may be
admitted, but as drama It Is about as
absurd a bit OF composition as ever was
paraded before the public.
.
Some cause exists for every effect. and
the cause FOR the prevalence of dramas
OF the type OF The Traffic" IL not espe-
cially hard to locate. Right here Il may not
be out OF place TO say the Omaha Social
Service board exercised good judgment in
not pressing its case against this play
any more vigorously; while the play has
some revolving aspects. It is far from be-
ing distinctly immoral. nor does II show
more of the unworthy than has frequently
been presented under the Eulse OF Eenu-
Inc drama. IL merely follows with modi-
fled realism the downward course Of
girl who has foolishly taken a mistaken
course OF action. Illuminating each step
along the pathway with "A discourse
against the industrial and social condi-
tions OF the day. suggesting the eonclu-
sion that when all other evils have van
ished the vearious victims OF tuberculosis
win no longer have to sell their bodies in
order 20 gain life for another. II would
have been a mistake 10 suppress this
play, because suppression would have
armed it's protagonists with another count
against the ''captaiistic'' system. which
is so roundly denounced at intervals dur
ing the unfolding OF the drama. As for
the cause of such dramas. Il may easily
be found In the wake OF the wave OF
pseudo reform that has been sweeping
over the country for many months.
shaken by the disclosures made by the re-
port OF the Chicago vice commission. Tn
speakable things were shown 20 exist,
and some very sweeping charges We're
made. Then came the Inquiry in New
York. under the so-called Rockefeller
grand jury. Then this phase OF the aues
tlon was passed over TO the more careful
and analytical study OF scientific investi-
Iat'rs. determined on getting at bottom
facts. While this study has been going
on much shouting has been heard that
girls are forced by low wages 20 sell
thcmselves into shame. that industrial
and commercial conditions are responsible
FOR the dreadful facts disclosed by the
original survey made by the 'vices
commissions, and legislative committees
made general and cursory inquiry for the
purpose OF establishing the truth of tbs
assertion that low wages and the social
eyh are inBeparably connected While
the results Of these inquiries were being
discussed. scientific inquiry was being
tarried on without flourish OF trumpets
The men and women who were determined
20 set et basic facts did not SO hunting
with brass bands. One reliable inquiry
that made In New York by the Civic Fed,
Grafton. concludes that;
We therefore hold that Il mas not beer
satisfactorily demonstrated that low
wsTes are direct cause OF the loss OF
virtue by working girls II Is our
Kenersl belief that low vases Of workins
girls ore scarcely ever a direct cause oi
their loss OF chastity
This report is signed by long list o.
the best known sociological workers ant
students OF the United States, amoni
them being George l. KneeIand, WI,
made tho report for the Chicago vice
commission. and who has written othei
similar reports; Katherine Bement Davis
head OF New York's reformatory prison,
at present and then head Of the Bedfort
Reformatory for Women: Mary NJ. Bar
teieme, assistant Judge Of the Suvenll.
court Of Chicago. and others OF similar
prominence IN a more recent report OF
vice conditions in New York. Mr. Knee
land presents tabuiated studies OF casei
that were under observation az the Bed
ford institute when Or. Davis was at ~
head, and from other reformatories II