The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-02
TRAVELLERS AID CONTEMPLATED
 MOVEMENT STARTED IN THE SOUTH I.s STEELE
By FLORA mILNER HARRISON

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 tionality solely upon the ground of their
 necessity.
 In New York. where the work orig mated much of it is of course con
 cerned with the steamship passengers. There are II lines of transatlantic steam-
 ships carrying passengers into New York
 from every eastern port. Thousands more land from 90 lines of steamers plying
 between New York city and ports on
 the coast of the United States and else
 where. Besides these are the 16 rail-
 road systems that discharge passengers
 from seven terminals all day and all
 night. Many of these passengers are
 unprotected women and girls. American
 and foreign. who are in danger and who
 need such prtection as Travellers Aid
 gives.
 Agents of the society who speak diff
 ferent languages meet, aid and care for
 needy or inexperienced travellers any hour
 of the day and night. directing them to
 their destinations in the city or to trains
 or steamers for other points. Rooms are
 reserved at the society's headquarters to shelter travellers who. in emergencies, are sent there.
 Often steamships bring young women who are to be married. Many of these girls, usually foreigners, are rut in the care of the society by the government
  sentative sees that legal marriage cere-
 monies are performed at once. It also keeps In touch as far possible and necessary with those aided and helps to secure work when this is desired. Regarding the steamship passengers the fact that in one year 1140 immigrants complained to the New York bureau of industries and immigration that they had been swindled or otherwise victimized is proof that Travellers Aid is needed there.
 Since the beginning of it's work the New York Travellers Aid has helped some 50,00O people, representing S2 nationalities, speaking 39 languages and dialects. Some of them have been helped very material ly some have needed only some slight assistance Since February, 19i1 when the present organization was perfected up to the opening of the war, it has averaged helping 1000 persons a month the majority of whom were women un- der 30 years, travelling alone.
 Why Aid Is Needed "I hardly see the need of Travellers Aid' said a man. My sister travelled around the world and met no trouble or danger"
 | Certainly there are many young women who travel without experiencing any an- noyance or accident. There are thou l sands or OtHeTS WHo db intct tHSsC AhfiicS. It is sometimes said that the American girl can take care of herself anywhere, but the records of Travellers Aid show that she is often pathetically helpless when travelling alone be she an ignorant girl or the daughter from sheltered home. She confidently trusts the world to take care of her and to be good to her. But the world is busy, and Trav- elers' Aid has found that often the per- son who offers to direct the girl travelling alone is the wrong kind. Colonel Bing- | ham, police commissioner of New York 1 city, is authority for the statement that l every year there are 10000 girls and young women lost in the United States. They
 simply drop out of existence. It is to prevent this that Travellers Aid was organized and is at work.
 Extension
 Other cities besides New York have
 taken up this work. In many cities, all over the United States, Travellers Aid societies have been organized. These so- cieties were organized independent of each other, the need for them being rec ognized in many different places at the same time. The object of them all is
 the same. the work varying slightly ac- cording to the cities, the ports having problems peculiarly their own, those towns with large foreign elements having
  tions as they are found tnere; but the 1 great task for each is safeguarding girls and young women.
 | Travellers Aid societies are supported | in different ways. Birmingham began
 hers through the churches assisted by the railroads. It is now supported by the Young Womens Christian associa- tion, assisted by the Terminal company. Atlanta began her society through the churches, Knoxville and Chattanooga by their Young Women's Christian associa- tons, Memphis by independent societies, Jackson and Meridian by private sub- scrptions The expense incurred is the salaries of the representatives employed at the terminals. Usuahy TWO can do this work. with an eight or 10 hours service for each. there are no trains coming in in the dead hours of the night. These workers are chosen for their ability, as it is work that requires a thorough knowledge of the city, a quick mind, insight and an understand ing of human nature. It sometimes calls for the powers and skill of a detective, for sympathy, unusual tact good judg- ment and for unlimited physical endur-
 ance.
 Confederation Needed
 As has been said. it seems that num-
 Der of cities saw the need of Travellers
 Aid. at the same time, when New York
 was extending and perfecting it's work
 with it's reorga nization; and so each or. ganized it's independent society. It was