The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1919-01-01
Pro. 2 [ TON
VICTIM | j !. UN ! 4 ZEN
!. ! BY STA r

Hhe war has sent out Its bic, boom.
Ing challenge for social democracy.
and we not only want to make. the
world safe place to live IN, but q
healthful place as well It Is said that
the boy In the trenches has a better
chance for. his life than the newborn
baby battling against disease, poverty.
and parental ignorance. Why is this :?
Because we have preferred our old
time methods Of patching up wrong
and curing disease rather than reduc-
ing both, through the application of
known principles of prevention.
~ Diseases Are PreventabIe.
Venereal. diseases are preventable,
but how? We must organize all the
forces of the community to suppress
prostitution, and alcohol; to substi-
tute. for them purer forms of recrea-
ton; to provide. better housing and
labor conditions; to help secure higher
wages and shorter hours of labor; to
sec ure better marriage laws in order
to eliminate the possibility of the pro-
creation of feeble-minded, insane, de-
generate, and criminals persons.
But those unfortunates already ex-
listing must be cared for. The State
Board of Health is providing dispen-
saries for medical care, and through
it's Social Service Department is
equipped to render special aid to
those who need it, both men and
women. On the medical side it offers
advice, and help to patients in secur-
ing medical treatment, and is able to
arrange that the treatment is carried
out until the patient can be pro-
nounced cured. It is proven that
many people do not remain under a
doctors care long enough to be conf
pletely cured; perhaps because of the
expense or time involved, or because
they do not understand the danger
of stopping short Of cure. This con-
tact with the individual offers chance
to educate him, as to the nature of his
disease, and his duty to follow a regl-
men that will protect others from i'll
lection. This class of persons is
am enable to friendly advice and con-
troll
There are others who have no
regard for the rights of others. It is
to this class. that prostitutes belong.
Some more drastic measures are nee
essary in dealing with these hardened
sex offenders, and sometimes they
must be brought through the courts.
Need Of a Woman's Reformatory.
Our greatest need at present for Min
nesota is a reformatory or farm col
ony for women where they can be sent
for an indeterminate period and stud
led and trained individually, and only
~'eturned to- society~swhenst they. prove
themselves capable of normal living.
Until we have such an institution we
must try to help the girl who gets
into the city workhouse, to make a
fresh start, always realizing that fail
ure may occur since the girl may be
incapable of managing her affairs sat.
isfactorily because of mental faint.
The problem of venereal> disease will
not be solved until we make adequate
provision as state for those of abb
normal mentality, who are prolific
spreaders of disease because unable
to control their sex impulses.
Protective Work.
Profiting by the experience of Eng
land, the state is employing women
to protect young girls on the streets,
in the parks, and amusement places,
and in the vicinity of training camps.
These women have police power, but
seldom need to use it, as warning
IS usually sufficient for this type of
silly girl
Then there is the girl who has left
home to find work in neighboring
city without knowing any of the diff
culties to be encountered This girl
may easily drift into vicious surround
ings and form questionable friend
ships, unless the community can safe
GUARD her at the right time. Then
there is the girl who is a runaway
in search of adventure and attracted
by the military uniform. This girl has
not done anything criminal and need
not be taken through the courts but
she can be returned to her home by
the protective officer. Her parents
can be warned of the danger and by
more careful supervision prevent a
repetition of the episode. Perhaps her
energies may be directed into other
channels, such as girls clubs, athletics,
or the various forms Of war work.
Then there is the older girl who is
distinctly hardened and may practice
prostitution clandestinely. It may be
necessary to bring this girl into court
and certainly an effort should besmade
to detach her from her former sur
.roundings. It goes without saying that
the girl who Is professional prosti.
tute must be eliminated from our So
ciety and it is> not too much to look
forward to the day when this will be
banished from our social life. -. =.
F These are war times, and we
want to keep our army the clean
est, and want the boys who have: re-
:ceived new ideas Of health and its
value to- come back to healthier COM
nlunities. II your town, hasn't thought
- AN, ,,rnII ON Of Il o1niru ito hnva@ nd