ther class of criminals. The
burglar and holdup man are high-minded gentlemen by comparison. There is
no more depraved class of people in the world than those human vultures
who fatten on the shame of innocent young girls. Many of these white
slave traders are recruited from the scum of the criminal classes of
Europe.

And in this lies the revolting side of the situation. On the one hand
the victims, pure, innocent, unsuspecting, trusting young girls--not a
few of them mere children. On the other hand, the white slave trader,
low, vile, depraved and cunning,--organically a criminal.

In the prosecutions which I have officially conducted against this class
of criminals the fact has developed that when caught they generally are
willing to arrange to pay heavy fines. These offers have, of course,
been refused and we have taken the position that we will in no case
accept merely a fine. In all these cases already tried we have asked the
court to impose jail sentences and we expect to continue that policy.
Men and women who make a living and fatten off the shame, the disgrace
and the ruin of innocent young girls are a menace to the community, to
whom no quarter should be given.

The rule in my office with reference to this class of cases is to show
no quarter--to extend no consideration of any kind. We are requiring
heavy bail and asking for imprisonment in the penitentiary in case of
conviction. And I may add that no criminal convictions secured as a
result of my efforts have yielded me a personal satisfaction to be
compared with that afforded by the conviction of those engaged in the
white slave trade.

One word more: I hope soon to see the time when the laws of the land
will as carefully protect the daughters of the United States from the
destroying hand of the white slave trader as the international treaty
agreements now protect the girl who is brought in from foreign shores.

Respectfully,

EDWIN W. SIMS.

[Illustration: AT WORK IN THE VICE DISTRICT--AT THE VERY DOOR OF A DEN

In some cities the charitable organizations have missionaries whose work
is among the denizens of the vice districts. This picture shows one of
them pleading with a lost one to give up her sinful life.]

[Illustration: BARS WERE REMOVED BY ORDER OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE

Until quite recently the back and side windows of vice resorts were
barred like a prison, and one of the first steps in this crusade was to
get the chief of polic