THE WHITE SLAVE INFAMY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12629, 17 October 1905, Page 7

THE WHITE SLAVE INFAMY.

It is difficult to believe that at this period of the world's 'history anything so infamous as 'an organised traffic in the bodies of young girls can exist in any civilised community; but at ia recent Jewish Congress at Atlantic City, according to the American journals, evidence was adduced which placed it be-j-ond all shadow of a doubt that a regular organisation exists, with branches in all parts of Europe and America, Shaving for its object the procurement of young and innocent girls for dens of (Shame and iniquity. It appears from the disclosures that were made that the traffickers an this detestable business employ agents, men of education, good address, and 'attractive manners, to go from town to town throughout Europe, inducing 'bright*, young women, chiefly •working girls, to emigrate, under glittering promises of steady employment at large wages. These girls are either accompanied across the Atlantic by the agents, or are met on their landing by others of the same class, and lured away to their ruin. It is .stated as a fact that hundreds of innocent and- unsuspecting girls from other countries are thus brought to destruction every year through the devices of this execrable organisation and its agents. For the purpose of combatting this terrible social evil, the American papers are calling fo<r the earnest, active and energetic co-operation of the immigration officials, the steamship companies, and the police and other criminal authorities of every civilised land. " The very existence of such a hellish business," says " Harper's Weekly,""" is an unutterable shame to civilisation, and the shame and ■reproach will 'be greater still if every possible effort is not made to stamp the life out of this infamous trade. Years ago, the civilised nations entered into a union to crush out the American slave trade, but the slavery referred to is infinitely worse." Persons engaged in such a traffic are pertinently described by the same paper as being " no more fit to be at large than a rabid dog or a venomous reptile, and should be dealt with accordingly." They aro worthy of no mercy and no leniency, and none should be shown.