The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-07-20
SOCIAL SERVICE
DIRECTOR GIVES
POINTERS ON VICE
FIRST STEP AGAINST ELIMiNA-
TIoN OF ORGANIZED VICE
SHOULD BEGIN IN HOME.
HEALTH BOARD READY TO ACT
Parents Are the Ones Who Must A.
sumo Responsibility for the Idsals
and Morals Of their Children

department for the state board OF
health. believes that the first step IN
the campaign against organised Woe
and the elimination OF yenereai dis
eassv, should begin In the home.
Miss Ostrander. for several years
was connected with Hull House In
Chicago and had two years experience
a. police woman IN Dayton.
There are a few very evident facts
that all women hesitate TO aclmow.
ledge. We all know them directly or
Indirectly, however and we are be
coming yearly more ready TO admit
them and assume our just share CT
the responsibility In meeting them
and overcoming their long line OF
hideous consequence said Miss ost-
rander.
"The greatest OF these age old
monsters Is prostitution. II crept into
our social life 50 long ago that no one
knows when or how We do know
that today II exists In every country
and among all sorts and conditions OF
men and must be reckoned with. II
furnishes the world with more filthy
and hideous diseases than all other
sources combined. 1t gives us most
of our blind and deformed children.
our feeble-mlnded men and women
and our drunkards. 1t furnishes tho
market where innocent girls and boys
are bought and sold TO satisfy tho
lusts OF mankind. II makes necessary
more asylums and institutions than
all other causes combined.
with prostitution goes every form
OF mental, physical and moral degen.
eracy, all OF which are taking tax
money out OF the pockets OF honest
citizens TO support and maintain. The
prostitutes, Of which there are many
more men than women. are children
grown up. They have all had mothers
and fathers. They were all as limo
cent as the children you see every day
on the streets OF your town. They are
the unfortunate ones who came under
the social conditions which we al
citizens allow to exist all about US and
they were too ignorant and too weak
to make the fight.
Someone asked me where the night
against prostitution should begin. The
answer is, In your own home. Prepare
your own girl and boy to make the
light In spite OF your devotion and
watchfulness, they will be subjected
20 the same conditions and tempta,
lions as every other girl and boy. The
only protection any child has against
the temptations OF life is from within
himself You parents are the ones
he so1l. -
for the ideals and for the morale OF
your children.
Our Debt TO Society.
I'VE, as individuals, are perhaps
more alive to our responsibility TO.
wards society just now than at any
time for many years because OF con.
ditions surrounding the encampments
The boys In those encampments are our
sons and husbands and brothers. The
women who prey upon them and the
men who corrupt them are hurting
our own. IL Is no longer an imper
sonal condition existing somewhere. II
is here. IL touches US directly. Our
sons are their victims and our daugh
tiers the wives OF those victims Their
our children and our grandchildren.
These are not pretty truths. There
are no soft words TO describe these
things. They are the truth, however
and they describe conditions very
close 10 our homes. What will you dc
about It.?
"The state Board OF Health has un
dertaken TO treat all cases OF venerea
diseases and SO protect the helpless
diaease apprehended at the canton
ments or at any other place IN th'
state. both men and women.
"The Social Service Department p
the state Board OF Health has beer
instituted TO organize the rehabilta
ton work which Is necessary before
any considerable number or patients
can be returned to society with de
sire for a normal life. Many most EN-
Giant organizations and individuals
throughout the state have already OF
fered their cooperation in furtherini
this work. Plans have been perfected
20 have each patient given menta
examination during hospital connne
mont 70 help determine their nnal dis
po.,tion. Those who are pronounce
feeb,eminded will be placed In insti
buttons for permanent detention.
Problem Belongs TO All Glasses.
"The problem belongs to all classe
and therefore all classes must work 20
kother TO solve Il. Assume your ful
sbare Of this responsibility now. Pro
.o,, vour own children. Not by KEEP
ing them tied TO your apron string
but by giving them the knowledge an
moral strength to fight their own ba'
Ties. They will have their hardes
struggles when you are not there .
protect them.
"The Social Service Department
.ha state Board OF Health Ia ready .