New Britain herald., 1918-02-15
GUARD GIRLS FROM
 LURE OF UNIFORM
Efforts to Protect Young Women
 Near CantOnmentS

 lem created by the presence of young girls in the neighborhood of these camps is one which must be squarely faced by the American people, just as 1t has been faced by the people of other countries in war time The lure of the uniform is more than a phrase-it is an actuality Girls often lose their heads by these un- usual conditions-and therein lies the problem
 This is the opening statement of pamphlet issued by the committee on protective work for girls of the War department commission on training camp activities outlining it's aims and telling of the work being done by local agencies.
 The committee reports the organi-
 Woman Patrols at Camps.
 zation of woman patrols in some com munities to do voluntary work near the cantonments. These volunteer patrols do not have police power, but carry with them cards signed by the chief of police or sheriff asking that officers aid them in every way possi- ble.
 ''scouting and patrol work is ne- cessary," says the committee. Pro- tective officers must be on the streets and in the vicinity of the camps to observe what is going on. Many of the girls found lettering near the camps are taken to their homes and their mothers interviewed. If Special Travellers Aid workers are not pro- .vided, the railroad stations, the docks and street car terminals are visited. Help is also being given in locating missing girls and making investiga- tions concerning them. These officers rsc;t r, o,-1-e %1o city, the moving picture theaters. dance halls, parks, etc, to see that city ordinances are enforced, and to dis cover young girls who are in need of help. Protective officers also aid in the enforcement of laws in cases where young girls are compliments. Many cities already have ordin- ances for the control of moving pie ture houses, amusement parks and dance halls. If not already in effect, ordinances should be passed and en- forced, requiring that girls under six teen years of age be accompanied by parents Or guardians at moving pie ture theaters, to provide for some censorship of films and to regulate the dance halls. In some communi- 1 ties it is necessary to urge better lighting of parks and streets, greater control of jitneys and automob piles, and additional policing in the coun- 1 try. It may also be necessary to secure ordinances or laws for an of 1 ficial House of Detention and for l better methods of dealing with girls and women in the courts. If there is not legal provision for probation and commitment to an institution without the alternative Of a fine, effort should be made to secure this''
 The women Patrols wherever or ganized, it is stated, are under a Girls Protective bureau supervised either by the police department or a voluntary committee. The bureau staff usually includes a director and at least two protective officers, all of whom are women. Wherever it is possible, these women workers arc employed by the police department l and are under it's jurisdiction Where it is impossible to secure salaries for them from the city or country, it is stated, a voluntary committee Or or ganization assumes responsibilities for l their pay and the request is made 1 that the women be given police power | in the city and the power Of deputy | sheriff in the country.
 How Results May Be Obtained. ! "In some cities says the committee l in it's pamphlet, lit is recommended l that the local committee on camp ac- 1 tivities appoint a subcommittee to l take direct charge of this work. In 1 few cities it is urged that a board 1 be appointed by the mayor to help l in creating a Girls Protective bureau
 in establishing a House of Detention
 and in securing the appointment of | a woman probation officer. In others, l the desired results may best be ob- 1 tained by committees operating in l dependentry. This committee will
 seek to carry out such a program and
 secure these additional facilities. l Whenever it is decided to esta blish
 a Girls Protective bureau or a House l of Detention, the committee on pro- l tective work for girls will send a ] worker to the city to help in the
 organization of one or both of these.
 'Tshe development of the education l al side of the question is proceeding | along various lines.
 Trained workers give lectures to members and talks to girls to secure l cooperation in giving assistance to l other girls and to show them how this work is carried on. Lectures also 1 will be given to groups of men to
 secure their cooperation, and vari-
 ous other organizations will be asked
 to help in this.
 "The workers in camp cities will
 meet in conferences for the discus
 sion of the problems arising in con-
 nection with the protective work and
 for the better understanding of meth-
 ods of dealing with delinquents.
 "In carrying out this program for | safeguarding girls during war time
 the committee on protective work for girls must have the co-operation and help of city and county officials and of all organizations and individ- uals interested in this work Some cities and local organizations which have women trained for this special work will be called upon to loan some