An interview with Mr. Arthur Lee in Tuesday's Pall Mall
should be useful in correcting certain misconceptions as to the aims of the supporters of the Bill for suppressing the " White Slave Traffic," which is about to reach the report stage in the House of Commons. The Bill is not framed by puritanical extremists. To quote Mr. Lee's words, "It makes no pretence at striking at prostitution as such, still less at harrying the prostitutes themselves." Its aim is to strike at the organizers of the trade—at the procurers, the brothel- keepers, and the souteneurs who " constitute the keystone of
the whole structure of commercialized vice." We appeal once more to our readers to take this opportunity of supporting by every means in their power a genuine attempt at dealing with this appalling evil. The abolition of prostitution is no doubt beyond the power of Parliament, but we can at least prevent the horrors of slavery and kidnapping being added to the social evil. We can make the commercial exploitation of prostitution so dangerous a trade that few will dare to engage in it. There should be pity and mercy for the prostitute, none for the brothel-keeper, the souteneur, the woman-stealer, and the procurer.
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