East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-08-21

NEW YORK, Aug. 21.-The recent
ly announced experiment of ten veal
thy Chicago club women in taking
into their homes the women of the
streets in an endeavor to return them
to society physically and morally
strong, has aroused a world Of COM
ment in New York sociological sir
cles. opinion apparently is much di-
vided as to the probable success of
the venture
one of the most interested in the
experiment is Miss Lucille Pugh, a
leading woman lawyer and ardent
supporter of a single standard Of
morals.
According to Miss Pugh, the success
Of Chicago's experiment depends on
whether the experimenters have Sc
lected Sheep or goats" to work on.
Immoral women, she contends, can
be divided into two classes-the un-
fortunate kind and professional street
walkers. For the unfortunate class,
Miss Pugh thinks the experiment
ing out the way the experimenters
want it to, but she considers the lat
ter class we'll nigh hopeless.
The one great problem before
these women" she said today, 'is
separating the professionals from the
unfortunate. On the latter class the
plan is excellent, but the profession,
al undoubtedly would consider it bad
business. The reason is apparent.
The professional makes too mucn
money to give up life of ease-how-
ever shameful-for the more prosaic
existence Of wheel in the cog of So
ciety. She cannot so easily forget the
glamour-again, however shameful
of a life underneath the white lights,
with the music the laughter the
wine, and all. There is no denying
that such a life has a certain fasclna-
ton for certain women.
THE professional street walker
makes money. She has to. More
over, she is Independent She lives
easily and without charity from any
one. She asks nothing from anyone,
but the right to ply her trade. The
Chicago experiment, I think would
smack too much Of charity to attract
this class.
In the first place she couldn't
stand for even one day of the quiet
home life offered her by her bene-
factors. Even should she make an
effort to do so, her nervous condition
would preclude her from remaining
without her usual drug or drink. The
professional street walker must have
a stimulant Of some kind. It doesn't
take long for drink or drug to get
Its tenacles into the system of those
who take it with a chaser Of ciga-
rette smoke, white lights and late
/ hours.
"The unfortunate woman-one who
was forced into the life through a
combination of circumstances, who
desires to turn back on it If she has
a chance, is in a very differen stu
alton. A few days of quiet and Sc
renity will restore her physical con-
dition and the friendship Of other
women will restore her self-respect
Aside from the practical good
which may or may not come from the
experiment, | think it an excellent
one, for this reason: It shows the
growing Feeling of sisterhood among
women and their capacity to judge
from a woman's standpoint instead
of a mans.
"Peoule afraid of contamination o
the unfortunate woman would d.
well to remember the equally unfor
tunate man. Unfortunate womal
may come and unfortunate womal
may go, but the unfortunate man W,
always have with u.s. He dimes will
us, he is in business with us, he golf
with US, he rides with US, and he take
our daughters to the theater
There should be some way to he'll
the unfortunate man. or to get rid 0
him
when the attitude Of the worl,
toward the unfortunate man is a
rigid and incorporating as It
towards the unfortunate woman, the
it is that the question Of the unfortu
| nate woman will be largely settled.