Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-09
WOMEN BELIEVE THEIR
PRESENCE IS NECESSARY
Will Continue to Attend All Sittings
Of Council Vice Investigating
Committee.
THEY ISSUE SIGNED STATEMENT
Committee Summons Four Addi-
tional Patro!men to Testify To-
Night - Accused commissioners
Are Preparing Their Defense.

Contrary to the desire. the belief and
the fondest anticipations of the Coun-
ell committee Investigating the Police
Department and almost everybody
connected In an official way with the
pending inquiry, the ilve women who
have sat on n front bench, watching
the proceedings with vigilant eyes and
listening intently to the graphic re-
citals of policemen tcstifying to what
they saw and heard In the bngnios OF
Richmond's underworld, will be again
among those present tonight when
the investigators resume the hearing
Mrs Georgia May Jobson, Mrs. Alice
Sherry Burrows, Mrs. Sophie G. Mere
dith, Mrs. d. +. Hooker and Miss Alice
Dooley are here giving public notice
that they are not to be deferred from
the pursuit OF a knowledge which they
believe will better fortify and equip
them for the work Of reformation TO
which they have devoted themselves
by any such demonstration rs the In
vestigating committee made when II
went into executive session behind
their backs last Tuesday night
WOMEN CRUSADERS WILL
SEE INQUIRY THROUGH
The women crusaders against the
monster Vice have decided to see and
hear 1t through. They take the posi-
tion that 1t is their duty to subject
their finer sensibiities to the rudest
shocks that may come to- them in the
form of word pictures Of city night
life while the witnesses are giving
their testimony.
They feel that this is no time for
the gentlemen of the investigating
committee or tho witnesses TO display
gallantry. delicacy. consideration for
the gentler sex or anything of that
sort They are appreciativc OF tho at-
titude assumed by the committee. But
they regard II rs superficial. They are
prepared for the worst.
Hence. they have held counsel, one
with another. and have agreed to dis
regard all the perils that Chairman
Barton Fl. Grundy may find It incum-
bent upon himself rs "chef Justice" OF
the Councils court of inquiry to point
out TO them when the investigating
body assemblies tonight at o'clock
IN the chamber of the city Circuit
Court. They will all be there
Chairman Cirundy has been in
Structcd by the committee to admonish
each witness that he Is to disregard
the presence of women when he Is
tcatifying, and speak without restraint.
SOCIAL SERVICE FEDERATION
ISSUES SIGNED STATEMENT
To make perfectly plain the position
they are taking I'm the matter, the
women crusaders yesterday prepared
and signed the following statement to
the public:
in view OF the fact that the pres
cncc Of women at the vice investigation
has been the subject OF comment by the
press. we. the undersigned officers OF
the Social Service Federation, wish to
make a statement concerning our re-
lation to this campaign against com
mercialized vice in our city. with the
hope that this statement Will justify
in the minds of tho public our constant
attendance and vigilance during this
investigation.
In the fall OF 1912 the president of
our organization called together the
heads Of many different civic and well
faro organizations. and brought to their
attention the serious conditions exist
ing in our city In regard To the social
evil Vice war openly tolerated, young
girls being lureG to their ruin, young
men led into lives OF SIM laws remained
uncnforced in regard to the existence
OF the segregated district, as well as
In the renting OF this property for i'm
moral purposes, liquor being sold there
without q license. and many violations
OF public morality Hagrantly committed.
I'm view Of these facts an organ
i2ation was formed Mt once. composed
OF these different organizations, rem
resenting 5000 citizens. men and women.
with Wow to correcting these oondi-
tions. We investigated the laws
through the City Attorney and other
attorneys. we appealed to- the Mayor
Continued on Ninth Pageo