Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-11-25

bawdy househ within zones OF i've ana
ten miles surrounding military and
naval camps and stations. Under these
provisions liquor selling and prostitu-
lions were eliminated In about thirty
i've cities and towns near the canton
ments and camps.
This, however was not enough. Sol
,iiers on leave fou i II easy IN these
DAYS of automobiles, railroads and
country -g.rdling troNey SystcTs TO set
mere than live miles from camp in
their time off duty And they found
these bad conditions existing In COM
munitics near The camps. The country
was Just waking up to the fact that u
was at war and had act provided the
facilities for soldiers sparc-time
amusement which they row enjoy. The
con sc du ancc was that too many mon
in uniform succumbed ~ tho tempta.
lions which were offered to them. SO
The war department Jc ormined that
the United States must be made SAFE
for the soldier, and the war depart
mons commission on training camp
activities was selected 10 be the agent
for making It safe.
The law enforcement division d.
vidcd the country into districts. cash
Of which was placed under district
supervisor, These district supervisors
were aced In charse Of fixed post
workers. located In the various COM
nunities villain each district who
yromutly made frs hand investiga-
tics of conditions w:-n!n their terri
tors. They discovered that while the
government hat decided that suppress
sion OF organized commercial vice was
pos si5le the communities were far be-
hird that point of VieW. In most OF
them there vas "toic ration" OF prosti-
tuition in spite Of the fact that venereal
disease was being spread broadcast
among the young men and was incap-
acitatilg them for working or fighting
and was taking, it's toll of wives and
children. The prevalent official opin-
ion was that prostitution couldn't be
e.imirated; The wise thing to 40 was
to regulate" it, This regulation I'm
Some cases took the form of a segre-
gated district, permitted to exist but
rot Officially recognize. in others
red light district formally authorized
under municipal ordinance. Always
there was collusion with the police;
always some graft
1t became the duty of the law en-
forcement division to change this pre-
valent point Of view. So their field
representatives. first having obtained
evidence regarding the conditions in
the various communities. undertook to
clean up their territory-to carry out
the governm 2nt's policy of suppressing
these brOthelS wherever they existed.
The procedure varied according to the
state of public opinion in the commun-
ity, but there was one~ba.sic plan OF
operations whichngeneral proved sue
cessfu. The district supervisor or one
of his subordinates would go to town
with his material We'll in hand. He
would call a meeting of representative
business and professional men and Of
tic;als and would say to them in effect:
Now, gentlemen, these are the facts
concerning your community. Vice en-
lists here. open, fragrant. \ There arg
houses of prostitution running UNI
checked to which our soldiers are
finding their way a large proportion
of the inmates of these houses are dis
eased. They are spreading vencreal
disease among our soldiers and among
your citizens. This is costing the gov
eminent great deal of money. 1t is
losing to the army the services of
thousands of men. 1t is affecting your
business, for no man with a venereal
sdisease can 10 as much work or as
good work as a healthy man. 1t is
menace to the safety Of homes here,