New-York tribune., 1917-12-31
Mrs. Humiston
Explains Why She
Declined to Quit
Policewoman Says Woods
Wanted Facts Gathered
for United States

Mrs. Grace Humiston, whose appoint
ment As A special policewoman to hunt
for missing girls was arbitrarily re-
voked bv Commissioner Woods Friday,
returned 10 New York from Washing
ton last night and issued statement
recounting the history of the events
which caused the Commissioner TO take
the summary action and giving the. re-
suits of her work during the last four
months.
In that time she declares she has
found 200 missing girls who have been
returned to their homes, has received
$500 vice complaints and investigated
3S3 reports Of missing girls, only %
of which came to her through the Po-
lice Department
The statement issued last night from
her Offices at 80 East Forty-second
Street follows in part:
About September !. at my request,
a committee was appointed by Commls-
sioner Woods 10 assist me In hnding
missing girls. and former Attorney
General George A. Wickersham was
made chairman. Not until after the
supposed after-dinner speech made by
me to the women lawyers Of New YORK
bv this committee, and then Mr.. Wick
ersham asked for data and papers
which properly belonged to the War
Department. / refused on the ground
that | had no right to turn over infor-
nation which ! was then giving undei
oath to the War Department. which had
designated Colonel J. c. Johnson, OF
Governors Island, to receive this in
formation and work in conjunction with
me.
81 did not resign to Commissioner
Woods because he commended my work
and gave no reason for wanting my
resignation, except that / would not
placc in Mr.. Wickersham's hands in
formation that | was giving the War
Department.
"A letter from Commissioner Woods
dated December IL came TO my office
asking my resignation and stating
that the Commissioner would make an
appointment if ! desired TO see him.
/ was i'm Washington az the time, and
nv secretary called on the Commis-
sioner. Under the date of December
2S she wrote me:
"'The Commissioner stated that your
work as a special Investigator on miss
ing girl cases had been perfectly sat
isfactory TO him, but he objected to
the investigation Of certain camp
cases by you, which he considered
came under Federal jurisdiction. and
also the fact that you refused TO give
these gases mentioned 10 members OF
the Mayors Committee at recent
meeting"
"My secretary's letter also said that
the Commissioner objected to my after
dinner speech.
II sent the following telegram to
Commissioner Woods;
"'Thank you for your expressions Of
praise made yesterday 10 Miss Forester
concerning my work for girls, and your
statement that u is beyond criticism.
am informed. however, that you sug
gest my resignation because you deem
NV recent criticism of conditions sur
rounding military camps either in
advised or unfoundcd. As ! have writ
ton YOU. Investigations now proceed
ing with army officers Will, when com
pleted. establish the fact and remedy
conditions which may require change.
/ cannot believe that you or any one
else will PREJUDICE accuracy OF state
nient
"'DifFering opinions may properly eN..
list as 10 whether public statement OF
truth is inadvisable. but ] submit that
i'm any event no criticism that mas
arisen because Of these statements has
been in the least directed against YOU
or YOUR department. and now that the
matter has dropped out Of public at,
tention ! earnestly urge that II should
not again be brought to public issue
by Won at this last moment OF your ad-
ministration. IL is my intention on
January 1 to submit my resignation to
Mayor Hylan.' |