South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-01
Police Probe Activities
Of Solicitors For White
Cross in South Bend

r9lice today are investigating
operations in South Bend for the al
legged establishment Of a home for
fallen girls; then TO help out in
white slave work. as It is alleged, by
a so-called National White Cross
league. Chicago and Lacrosse. Wis.
the result Of exposure through the
columns Of The Times yester-
day and this morning at the Instance
OF the Chamber Of Commerce.
The system Of solicitation patterns
closely after that employed several
weeks ago by the Red Cross society.
charging a dollar for membership
and a dollar extra if you take the
league magazine The work is done.
however. largely by telephone.
Headquarters are maintained at 2O3
Dean building.
Another claim that the league So
licitors are said 10 have made IS
that they are working in the inter
ests of the Florence Crittenden
circle, using the name OF Mrs. r.. W.
Harris. president Of the circle, as
being one who had referred the So
Icitors 20 the various residents who
might be interested.
According to Mrs Harris. she has
never seen anyone connected with
the White Cross league and fur
thermore. IL is against the rule OF the
Florence Crittenden circle 10 solicit
funds at any other time than during
Good Will week. They are not try
ing 20 get a home here but use the
state home for the girls, which in
stitution they are helping.
Lady Manager Indignant.
Signal failure met attempts by re-
porters for The News-Times today
To secure any statement concerning
the amount of money collected. Miss
Mamie Di"kman, alleged local man
ager for the White cross league"
whose aides for the last three days
have heen cauvassins the city. is
worse than indignant at the publicity
she has been getting. but does not
talk much on that particular point.
AT the local offices of the white
Cross, which are situated in the
Duan building. Hiss Dickman de-
Clared that she could not make pub
lie the amount that had been con-
tributed by South Bend residents.
"Our Business. Not Yours"
THAT is our business and not
yours" said Kiss Dickman. i'm reply
10 questions covering the point.
The News Times investigation to-
day follows a warning published
yesterday hy the South Bend Cham
Der OF Commerce warning the public
against confoundng the white
Cross" with the Red Cross"
Following the publication of the
warning in thissnewspaper a number
of young girls whom Miss DiCkman
had employed 20 solicit funds via tel
ephone. resigned their positions and
declared that they would have Moth
ing more 20 do with the movement.
They said chat they had secured
work with the society through an
employment bureau, and that they
knew nothing more of the history
and purposes Of the society than had
been detailed 20 them hy AIiss Dick
man. These details they asserted
had been scant They said that they
had thought it somewhat strange
that when they entered the employ
Of the society Miss Dickman had
stipulated that an of them should
operate under the one name, Miss
Hamilton.
Many Names But
Early this afternoon Miss Dick
man declared that the aims ana
purposes OF the society were "of
the highest. bat admitted that the
name white Cross society" was
only another name of the Chase Ad-
vertising agency OF Chicago. Miss
Dickman ADMITTED that she did not
know OF any publications with
which the agency had ever placed
advertisements FOR Us clients she
said that It was mot that kind Of