The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-13
THE SCARLET QUESTION MARK
State Board of Health,
jacksonville, April II.

ObdIc DOdIu VI I16dIIH,
Jacksonville, April II.
Editor Star: / have just read the
Associated Press article appearing in
your paper of April 9th, under the
heading: "Dr. Greene Has the Dope;
He May Make Fortunes for Auto
Drivers and Cheap Hotels"
Permit me to advise that the article
is in error in stating that "At the in
vitation of Governor Hardee, State
Health Officer Greene has drafted
measures designed to rid the state of
prostitutes and persons connected
Herewith" While Governor Hardee
was not responsible in any manner
for the drafting of these measures,
it is trusted that they meet his ap-
prevail.
These proposed laws are for the
purpose of depressing the activities
of chauffeurs, hotel proprietors or
others who may be engaged in the
promotion of prostitution. will be
glad to send you copies of these pro-
posed measures.
AS a matter of justice to Doctor
Greene, / must suggest to you that
the heading used for your article was
inapt and misleading and capable of
being construed as reflection on the
ability and sincerity of DIR. Greene.
Such was not your intention, | am
sure.
The attitude of DIR. Greene toward
the eradication and control of vene
real disease is that it is purely a
| public health measure. Funds ap-
i,propriated to the use of the state
board of health are not intended to
be used for purposes of moral pro-
paganda. Our program is not NOR
al campaign. 1t is not within our
province to attempt to regulate the
morals of citizens. We are not in
terested from a public health stand
point in so far as certain immoral
practices may be factor in the
spread of venereal disease. 1t has
become a~custom of some chauffeurs
and some hotel or rooming house pro-
prietors to aid prostitutes in the prac-
tice of their profession. The laws as
contemplated and under consideration
are for the purpose of depressing
such activities.
1t must be said further that in DR..
Green's opinion as well as in that OF
myself, the problem of prostitution
cannot be solved by bounding these
unfortunate women and girls from
one community to another. Neither
can they be successfully depressed by
jail sentences. 1t must be borne in
mind that a large percentage of such
women and girls are mentally sub
normal, and that an overwhelming
majority of them are not vocaionally
trained to cope with economic condi-
tions as at present existing.
A higher and more humane attitude
toward the female prostitute is not
that she is to be made the scapegoat
for the sins of the community but
that she is more likely the victim.
The victim of circumstances over
which she has no control.
A far better procedure would be to
place delinquent girls under the age
of eighteen in the institution at
Ocala where they can be properly
trained; to place all Predetermined
girls and women in the institution at
Gainesville, where they can be per-
manently segregated, preventing the
possibility of their ever becoming a
menace through the spread of vene-
real disease or the propagation of an
inferior type of offspring; to provide
an institution for the segregation OF
adult delinquents who are not feeble
minded but are public menace, where
they can be cured of venereal dis
eases and finally released after an In
definite term And finally to take the