Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1914 — Tells Women How to Keep Girls From Vice. [ARTICLE]

Tells Women How to Keep Girls From Vice.

Chicago, June 16.—George J. Kneeland did some plain talking to delegates to the General Federation of Women’s clubn in convention here today. Mr. Kneeland is director of the department of investigation of the American Social Hygiene association. His remarks were based on statistics gathered by his department and on the reports of investigators. Contrary to the general impression and the report® of some investigators that the majority of these girls are feeble minded or subnormal, Mr. Kneeland, said the majority of the girls are intelligent. “Some of them,” he asserted, “come from such homes as yours. Some live at home in idleness and ease. They are typical American girls, daughters of respectable and prosperous parents.” Mr. Kneeland said that dancing and impassioned love scenes on the stage intensified the sex appeal. He told the women they could help save these misguided girls and made the following suggestions: “Make some effort to find these girls in your town. They are there. Having found them, you can attach yourself to them with hands of love and understanding. The way to know them is to study your own heart, remember the days of your. youth. The influences that protected you will in the end save them.

“Give to them healthy and sane instructions as to the mystery of life. Warn them of diseases and the crime of abortion. The evil must be supplanted by the good. “Each of you have a powerful influence in providing amusements in your own community, where the sex appeal is eliminated. “Use your influence to bring about better economic and industrial conditions, so that fathers can be masters in their own home; so that young men can marry early in life. ‘Teach ignorant mothers and fathers so that they will love and understand their children more. ‘Teach boys and young men to honor womanhood. You can make them realize that young girls represent more than half of all future generations; that upon them depends the health and power of the race; that to Injure a girl, take advantage of her racial instinct at a critical moment, is a crime against unborn generations. Men must learn to sacrifice themselves, if need be, for the good of the race. “Use your influence to restore the home, the simple, yet powerful protection which grows out of the belief in the religion of our fathers. ‘The most complete solution otf a man’s or woman’s sex problem lies in vital, personal relationship to the infinite and eternal God. This we must teach our sons and daughters.”

The resolutions adopted recommended: ,

Simple, becoming and modest designs in dress. Favored increased appropriations for state and city boards of health. Urged university extension work for the prevention of disease. Promised-to co-operate with children’s bureaus in employing nurses. Requested children’s bureaus to prepare pamphlets for mothers on sex instruction for their children. Approved state laws making mandatory the reporting of venereal disease.

Approved abatement and injunction law in the suppression of immoral resorts.

Mrs. Percy J. Pennybacker, of Texas, was re-elected, and the entire ticket of the nominating committee was Chosen without opposition.

Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson, daughter of the president, led the delegates in the singing jof Edwin Markham’s song, “Brotherhood.” When Mrs. Pennybacker introduced Miss Wilson, the throng of delegates arose and waved and cheered her tfor fully ten minutes.