The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-22
Mrs. Snodgrass Hits Immor-
ality And Soul Traffic
In Address
INSANITY CAN BE
ATTRIBUTED TO VICE
Speaker Declares, Present.
ing Startling Facts-Au-
dience Impressed

A rather small but highly appreci- |
ative, audience listened to the lecture
by Mrs. Della Snodgrass of Xenia,
the evangelical superintendent of the
state w. c. y. u, on the topic, Elm
ger Prints On the Nation" at the
county convention in session at the
M. e. church Wednesday night.
The meeting was called to order !
by Mrs. Nora Farquhar at o'clock
and was opened with prayer and the
singing of the hymn, Onward Chris
tian Soldiers" The audience was
composed chiefly Of women, but with
goodly sprinkiing OF men-an audi
ence of about $50 people.
Mrs. Snodgrass has spent practi-
cally all of her life in social service
and rescue work among the poor of
our larger cities and her abundant
experience among the poverty, vice
and crime Of the slums Of the Ameri-
can cities furnished her with material
for lecture both absorbing and of
great Importance to the American
public.
Starting her lecture with u refer
ence to statistics the speaker called
attention to the fact that today there
exists in the United States 500 per
cent more insane people and 300 per
cent more epilectice than there were
fifty years ago. The state of New
York in 1912 alone produced more in
fifty years ago, according 10 the state
ment of the lecturer and her state
ments were supportd by statistics
Passing from this discussion, the
speaker next produced the fact that
our country last year paid out over
$290,000,000 as the result of criminal.
ity and OF this amount the state OF
Ohio spent eight millions, which Is
double the sum that was spent be
cause OF criminality eight years ago
in this state
|
ence, the speaker asked the question,
what is the cause of these condi-
tions and who Is to blame?"
Answering her own question, she
l stated that the attitude taken by the
general public In attempting to keep
, covered the conditions of crime and
vice and stunning illusions and in
formation upon such subjects were in
the main responsible for the existence
of such conditions.
The subject of the white slave traf,
fic in the United States was taken up
and discussed at some length in re-
spect TO the situation as it conironts
the nation at the present time. Speak
ing first of the traffic in souls itself as
a menace to every parent in the land
and possibility of its affecting their
l own families, the speaker passed rap
@ idly to the wake of misery and dis
ease the traffic leaves behind, which
, she termed as even worse than the
a traffic Itself, as IL affects the entire
E commonwealth produces crime and is
. the source of untold misery and dan
ger to every citizen In the land.
The dreaded and usually unnamable
diseases arising from the traffic and
immortality of the few, being of a con.
tagious character pass rapidly and no
one is immune from infection, how
ever well he may safeguard himself
and his family. These conditions
were takn up and discussed with a
knowledge and delicacy which only an
experience with the actual conditions
could yield forth.
The speaker declared that as soon
as the general public became fully Inn
pressed with the dangers arising
= from this sore on the soul OF the
: United States the weight OF public
opinion would force a revolution of
these conditions and bring about Il
mighty change in the nation In re-
= spect to them.
r Her own specific for the evil was;
= First educate, then leglslate."
The lecturer closed her address
with an appeal to her audience to as.
slst In spreading the gospel of clean
living and assist in bringing a light
: to bear upon the menace of white
slavery and it's attendant evils such
J that would cause II to he blotted from
the face OF the earth.