The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-20
WORK Of CIVILIAN
COMMITTEE ENDORSED
Report on Activities to Protect State
From Influx OF EVIL Made to
Defense Council.
MONEY NEEDED IN EFFORT
DR.. Mastin's Committee Handicapped
by Lack of Funds-&sseps to Be
Taken to Supply Suitable Detention
Home,


| or the report showing the work that
has been done by the state civilian
| committee on camp activities which
! committee has in charge the work of
/ protecting the state, and especially
I those communities near large military
4 camps, from the evil effects follow
/ ing an influx of hangers-on and camp
/ followers. and likewise to urge upon
| the local authorities and to cooperate
with them in the enforcement of the
laws, especially appertaining to
morals.
| Good progress is reported. The
/ committee finds the automobile a
large factor in the Richmond section
and Is now considering this phase OF
the situation.
| Upon receipt OF the report the
council of defense adopted resolutions
| calling upon the officials and citizen
ship of the state to properly back
stand this committee In its important
work, and providing for a committee
to consult with the governor reia-
tive to methods TO TIE made use of
in providing a suitable and adequate
place of detention for the women
whose presence in the neighborhood
Of the camp Is found to be detrimental
TO morality.
Owing to the fact that the commit
tee Is handicapped in It's work by lack
OF funds the state council of defense
/ urges governmental financial coop
/ GRAFTON with the committee. The text
of the report follows:
Text of Report.
The statement OF our efforts, our
plans and of the present situation Is
as follows.
The committee promptly organized
with Or. J. T, Mastin as chairman
and Rev. Geo. Floyd Rogers as sec
rotary We have met In Petersburg,
Hopewell, Richmond. Norfolk, Hamp-
i ton, Alexandria, Camp Lee, and also
held conferences with citizens in the
several communities. Through the
assistance OF Judge ], Hoge Kicks.
the committee has published pam
phlet form for general distribution,
the Virginia laws for the suppression
OF vice. we have also published and
distributed a little pamphlet called,
rs the Young Man Safe?' which con-
tains valuable information bearing on
the problems confronting us. The
purpose Of the committee Is to induce
the preachers in the cities and coun-
ties contiguous to the camps to set
apart a. Sunday when the problems
connected with out work will be dis
cussed from the pulpits The preach
ers in Richmond. Newport News and
Hampton have already held meetings
and many sermons have been
preached on matters relating to war
and to law enforcement
In these meetings and In other
meetings the duty of the community
to protect the soldier was discussed;
likewise we emphasize the need of
impresstng upon our people the duty
Of protecting the young people of the
community. especially the youEg girls
and boys.
IAN organization has been effected
in Hampton OF a committee for law
enforcement composed OF $50 OF the
leading citizens of Newport News,
Hampton and Phoebus. This COM
nittee has, interviewed the officers
commanding at Newport News and
Old Point and secured the co-opera-
ton of the military authorities with
the cooperation of the governor and
of these authorities. seven gambling
saloons have been broken up and the
proprietor of the largest house or
prostitution in Hampton has been
placed on trial; there was hung jury
In the case ana at the next trial the
assistant attorney-general will be
present and assist the prosecution.
/ The fight against vice In Newport
News will be prosecuted vigorously.
Hampton has organized the ministers
who have all become active.
Norfolk, Port smouth and Norfolk
| County.
I'VE have not effected the organi-
zation OF Norfolk and Portsmouth. but
the committees have been selected
and an organization will be completed
In week or ten days and the outlook
for a vigorous campaign In Norfolk
is promisingg. Efforts to enact an
ordinance especially dealing with
lodging or boarding houses is being
made, the object being to have every
such place registered and licensed.
Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico.
I'm Richmond large committee
composed OF influential citizens has
been organized and has done some
good work. The ocnters of bad in
proceeded against Committees are
likewise organized in Chesterfield and
Hnrico. The trouble in this territory
springs largely from the use of auto
mobiles for purposes of prostitution.
We are now considering means to deal
with this phase of the evil. One very
interesting case Is now being prose-
cuted- The ministers of all dcnomi-
nations have been organized for work
and are progressing rapidly.
and Prince William.
Tn Alexandria city, Alexandria
Alexandria City and County, Fairfax
county and Fairfax. COMMITTEES have
been organized and are planning a
vigorous campaign. The committee
finds that the unrest in the communi-
ties caused by the war results in great
danger to the young people. especial
ly TO the girls. and is undertaking
to secure the means to employ In each
district--that Is. in Richmond, Peters
burg, Norfolk. Newport News, Alex
andria, Hopewell and elsewhere
trained social workers who will or
ganize the good women of the COM
munfty for the protection OF the girls
Arrangements are now being made in
Alexandria city. Alexandria county,
Fairfax. in the city OF Richmond. in
Chesterfield county, and in Newport
News, Hampton, HopeweII and Pc
tersburg for the employment of such
trained women. who VIII be appointed
probation officers, thereby giving
them limited police authority Such
trained women should be appointed
in all sections contiguous to the train
Ing camps.
Petersburg, Prince George and Din
widdic.
I'm Petersburg. a large representa-
rive civilian committee OF men and |
women has been selected and some |
effective work including several ar
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