A national disgrace.—Hours and days might well be consumed in explaining the facts and conditions involved by this white slave traffic in the different sections of the country, but if it has been made clear that there is such a traffic, that it extends throughout our entire country, and that it involves conditions which are a disgrace to our nation, it would seem that little else need be said regarding this phase of the matter, unless it be to add that it is estimated that not less than 25,000 young women and girls are annually procured for this traffic, and that no less than 50,000 men and women are engaged in procuring and living on the earnings of these women and girls, and that the number of women and girls engaged in prostitution in this country at the present time is estimated at not less than 250,000.
Power of the Federal Government to wipe out this awful traffic.—These figures will give some idea of the enormity of the evil which is involved. Moreover, it will be apparent that the white slave evil is one of a national character and one which cannot be successfully dealt with by local authorities. That it should be suppressed there can be no question, and this leads us to consider the facts as to the means available for its suppression.
By the Constitution of the United States the Federal Government is given three important powers, which have a direct bearing upon this traffic.
(a) By Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution Congress is given power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States.”
(b) By the same article and section it is given authority “to establish postoffices and post roads.”
(c) By Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution it is provided that “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction,” and by Section 2 of the same amendment it is provided that “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
It is believed that by these provisions sufficient authority has been vested in the Federal Government to enable it, by enacting and enforcing appropriate legislation, to absolutely wipe out every vestige of this awful traffic.
About two years ago, having in mind its powers under the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution, Congress enacted, under date of June 25, 1910, what is known as the White Slave Traffic Law, by which the transporting, or the persuading, enticing or coercing of women and girls to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, for the purpose of prostitution, or for any other immoral purpose, is made a crime.
This provision of law seems fairly well to provide such legislation as is necessary and proper under the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution. It is believed, however, that the hands of the government would be greatly strengthened in dealing with this traffic if the law were extended so as to make it a crime for persons to communicate by mail, telegraph, or in any other manner from one State or territory to another, or to any foreign country, for the purpose of inducing or persuading any woman or girl to travel in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose, and it would also be well if it were also made a crime to send any communication, by means of the telegraph, through the mails, by express, or by any other common carrier in interstate or foreign commerce, for the purpose of soliciting money or other valuable thing—the avails of prostitution—except for a legal and adequate consideration.
A statute of this kind would be very useful in dealing with persons connected with the white slave traffic who cannot be reached under the present White Slave Traffic Act, but who are communicating with and directing the movements of their victims and are receiving their earnings through the various channels of interstate and foreign commerce.