Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-11
WILL CONTINUE
CITY Detention
HOME FOR WOMEN
win Move Hospital to Old
County Jail, Eleventh and
Douglas Streets; Can
Accommodate 100.

Superintendent Ringer Of the de-
partnent of police, sanitation and
Tublic safety. and Health Comm:s-
sioner Manning, have announced
their determination to continue the
Women's Detention hospital The
city councils failure to make a spe-
elf c appropriation will not, theJ as
sert, discourage them in maintain
ing what they believe to be an inn
portant municipal institution
Their present plan is to move the
hospital to the city jail site at Elev-
enth and Dodge streets, using part
OF the old county Jail which is being
remodeled and improved. The
health commissioner believes that
100 women can be cared for at the
new location. The item of rent will
be eliminated and by close figuring
Commissioner Ringer and DR.. Man.
ming expect to be able to maintain
this hospital feature out of their
regular funds.
Docked BY U. S.
A letter received by The health
commissioner from the social hygiene
division of the commission on train
ing camp activities has heartened
the health department officials in
their determination to continue pub
Lie treatment OF women who are af-
flieted with social diseases.
The treatment of men in similar
manner is under consideration.
William H. Zinsser, director Of
the social hygiene division of the
War departments commission on
training camp activities, addressed
a letter to Health COMMISSIONS
Manning as follows:
Almost Immediately after the
signing of the armistice an idea that
the government campaign against
prostitution and its inevitable
camp foliowers'-social diseases
would soon be dropped spread
throughout the country. The prev
alence of this idea reveals one thing
of vital interest to every broad
minded and public-spirited citizen,
namely, that the prohteers and ex-
ploiters of the nations greatest
wealth-its young men and women
ARC still strong, ready to seize the
first opportunity to reassert them
selves.
Menace Recognized.
THE menacing aspect of these
diseases has been recognized for
many years by physicians and other
health authorities, but through ig-
norance and false modesty the gen
eral public has overlooked or avoid
ed them. The extremely harmful
conditions which this ostrich-like
attitude has resulted in are best
shown by the figures for the Unite
States army lin the great war. Dur
ing this struggle over 100000 cases
Of social diseases were treated by
the army. at a cost Of upwards Of
500 900. 000-more than fve-sixths
Of these having been brought in
from civil life.
The War and other departments
of our goYernment-wlth the able
and earnest cooperation of thou-
sands of private eitizens-have
fought and are fighting a winning
fight against this crowd of vultures.
Commercialized vice has been shak
en- To its very base. But the defeat
is not fnal-communities without
number still exist where lax law and
health regulation enforcement is
still the rule.
For Constructive Campaign.
You have already demonstrated
your interest in this whole problem.
The following points are noted,
therefore, as an indication of some
phases it is necessary to emphasize
in any constructive campaign
against these enemies of mankind:
'sone-Strict and impartial repression
must be the rule. 1t Is also essential that
all those arrested tof the prostitute or
yagrant class. both men and womenl, be
examined and. II infected, treated. II
must be remembered. however, that in
ternment and treatment are not sub
sttute for criminal punishment, but rath-
err In addition to IT.
''Twn-The only just law is one treat
Ing men and women alike in regard to
disease law violation. etc Any other
course Is both unfair and futile, since 4
diseased man may be just as effective
4 sbreader az a diseased woman.
'tThrees-The social disease laws make no
discrimination as to sex or color and
therefore. that officials adopt this same
attitude.
Enforcement Essential.
sFour-Any regulations, to be effective,
must include among others, provisions re-
curing reporting OF social disease py
doctors. the examining Of prostitutes ana
similar individuals, the reporting OF All
sales of social disease remedies made by
srukRists ana the prohibition Of all So
called quack' advertising Of fake RENEE
dies ne You have not already done 90, get
In touch with your local authorities ana
Rtpfa board OF health, and find out about
both your community ordinances and
stafe regulations on social diseases and
prostitution. Their enforcement Is es-
ssutiai.
This seems like large order. u
is, but this is large question, al
most the largest one any OF use has
10 face. This outline has been given
Won a. perhaps suggesting some pos
sihie lines Of activity in this work
for civic and national cleanliness,
which YOU have not before thought
az. Ii makes no preteuses of being
comprehensive. The points enumer-
ased. however, have all been strong
II emphasized by the revelations
which the liHelight of war has
made; they must be included in any
constructive scheme for combating
these great evils. You have mani-
tested your interest in this whole
question; BY working along any OF
the indicated lines, or any others
which may suggest themselves TO
YOU YOU can assist very decidedly.
The main thing is to work.
- 81 - Nf~snrran