The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-09

corning our relation to this campaign
against mmerc!alized vice in our
city. with the hope that this state
ment9 VIII justify in the minds of the
pubIlc our constant attendance and
vigilance during this Investigation.
In the fall of 1912 the president
or our organization called toget her
TIE heads OF many different civic and
welfare organizations, and brought
TO their attention the serious condi-
ions existing in our city in regard to
the social EVIL. Prostitution was OPEN
~ tolerated, young girls being lured
to their ruin, young men led into lives
or sin. laws remained unenforced in
regard to the existence Of the segre-
gated district, as well as the renting
OF this property for immoral purposes.
liquor being sold there without O.
license, and many violations of public
morality flagrantlv committed.
( Organization Formed.
In view OF these facts, an orga7i-
cation was formed at once. composed
! OF these different organizations, rep
resenting 5000 citizens, men and wo-
men. with view to correcting these
conditions. We investigated the laws
through the City Attorney and other
attorneys, We appealed to the Mayor
and To the Police Commission for CO.
operation. and asked for police
matron, and for policewomea, III tho
way of partial remedy. THE police
matron has been appointed, the po-
llcewomen not YETI We advocated
u bill before the Legislature, raising
the age OF protection from fourteen
years to eighteen years. We held
public meetings Ia the interest of pub
/ lie morals; throug our efforts the
play Damaged Goods was brought
here
/ Thus, by legislation and education,
We have endeaVored to open the eyes
of the public to the necessity Tor this
campaign now in progress against vice
conditions In our Inidst.
Their Presence Needed.
We feel that our presence Is
needed in tho way OF giving moral
support tn the further prosecution
IT this campaign. and to let the public
realize that the interests OF women
and children are vitality concerned
and should be manifested during this
Investigation by the women them
selves
a Have Faced the Facts.
Women have faced the facts in
the existence OF vice, and now we are
facing the facts in the discovery and
prosecution Of vice. Let the truth come
out at each session--nothing can be
worse than the facts we have already
known We are there not to hear, but
TO show our concern and our co1vic-
ton that The pestiience that walketh
in darkness needs to be brought tc
light in order to be remedied. We
would disdain to touch this vice prob
lem for any other reasons. We fee
that the above reasons Justify OUT
presence at the vice investigation.
GEORGIA MAY JORSON.
President
ALICE SHERRY BURROWS
First Vice President.
SOPHIE @, MEREDITH.
Second Vice President
ALICE DOOLEY.
Secretary
MRS. u. f HOOKER.
Treasurer
Meet Again Tonight.
The next meeting or the 'investigat.
ing committee will be held tonight
when four new witnesses will bs
present. prepared TO testify for the
prosecution. In addition. Patrolman
G. T. Tucker will be recalled, and
there are four witnesses who have
already been summoned and who
are yet to testify. 1t IL not believed
that any of these witnesses will hold
the stage long and there In no reason
for revising the belief that tonight 4
session Will see an end to direct tes-
timony by the prosecution. Witnesses
for the defense will then have to be
heard, following which three of the
police commissioners will take the
stand In their own defense Commits
sioner Goode will explain his "bawl :
ing out" of Detectives Goldsby and
1 Campado1ica for their raid upon a
/ house on North Fifth Street, under
taking to show that he was joking,
and will also explain his remarks to
four officers who raided house on
East Main Street. He Will seek to
show, It Is understood, that he did
not refer to women OF ill-fame when
he said that II he did not rent the
flat Ito those kind Of people he
could not rent il at all, and will con-
tradict the witnesses who declared
that he told them they were exercise
ing ID poor judgment" in raiding
a house on East Main Street. He will
explain that he said they were using
} bad judgment In blocking the street.
/ Commissioner We'll Is expected to
enter a general denial of testimony
! that he had attempted to intlmidate
officers In the discharge of their
duties.