The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-28
MAKE BIRMINGHAM
 SAFE FOR GIRLS

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 Will you through the columns of your good paper The AgeHerald, allow me to once more remind the people of this locality that conditions have not inn proved with the State Training School for Girls in any particular.
 We hear and read great deal about conservation at this time, but it seems to be conservation of everything under the sun but the neglected girl.
 In reading Golfers Weekly, I noticed that the editor says: This world will never be made safe for democracy or for anything else worth while until it is made safe for girls
 Are we making it safe for girls in this locality. especially for those who have been neglected, and who need the care and training of school like the one at East Lake? Winter is close a hand and the same cramped quarters are still in evidence. the same boxhouse for many ol the girls to sleep in, etc. and the same unhealthy conditions prevail. We pa tiently read the daily papers which set forth in glowing terms the many dollars that are being raised for various pur- poses, and wonder when our turn is con- ing, or if these helpless girls are to be left out of the reckoning altogether and thrown down as so many weeds by the wayside, eventually to be tramped in the dust.
 It might be well, however, to remember that at times some of the weeds contain seed that finds it's way into the soil and at iast springs up and bears other seed to be carried by the wind and sown broad cast over the land to annoy and make trouble for those who so carelessy threw the weeds by the wayside, and as time goes by, trouble will have increased, as 1t is bound to do in the case of these girls if not properly cared for The girls daily ask me the question, Are we ever going to have better and larger place than this?" I can only reply, T hope for q better place. girls, and we have been promised it,' but in the meantime rest lessness and uneasiness increase as the days grow colder and shorter and con- finement to the building more constant. The daily papers set forth in glowing terms the wonderful things about the Magic City and the inexhaustible re- sources of the state of Alabama, and of the immense sums of money raised for various purposes (not one of which is more necessary than caring for her own neglected girls), yet when the girl ques- tion Is reached cold shower begins to fall and money asked for to aid these iliit- crate little cotton pickers and child mill hands suddenly grows very scarce. No other state either north or south (and l say 1t advisedly), would for seven long years point to a place like the one at East Lake and be obliged to admit to strangers: Yes. this is our only institu- tion for the neglected girls of our state.''
 We have and have had for many years a good commodious institution for the brothers of these girls, but this Is the way we treat the sisters. "But what is the difference. anyway? They're only girls and it doesn't make much difference what kind of wives and mothers they do become" The above may not be uttered in so many words but it is daily acted out to our detriment and despair.
 OPHELIA L. AMIGE.
 Birmingham. October 2s, 1917.