GOVERNMENT PRONOUNCEMENTS 3. That the said Departments adopt a plan for centralized control of venereal infections through special divisions of their medical services. 4. That the said Departments consider the plan of organization herewith attached. WHEREAS, the use of alcoholic beverages is generally recognized as an important factor in the spread of venereal disease in the Army and Navy; and WHEREAS, these diseases are among the most serious and disabling ones to which soldiers and sailors are liable; Therefore, be it resolved that we endorse the action of the Army and Navy in prohibiting alchoholic beverages within military places in their control and we further recommend that the sale or use of alcoholic beverages be prohibited to soldiers and sailors within an effective zone about such places. The partial program which grew out of this early pronouncement of the government became popularly known as "the American plan." FROM GENERAL ORDERS NO. 135, WAR DEPARTMENT, The statements herein defining the attitude of the War Department toward sex morality are published for the information and guidance of all concerned. The responsibility and influence of officers in making effective the provisions of this order are of the greatest import, and the War Department looks to them to accord their undivided allegiance to this work which presents such large opportunity for national service. 1. The successful experience of the army in combating venereal disease during the World War indicates clearly that: (a) Continence is not prejudicial to health, and its maintenance is the only sure method of avoiding venereal disease. Measures encouraging it have proved most effective in keeping down rates of venereal disease. (b) Prophylaxis is a measure of disinfection which is provided solely to protect exposed men from the results of their folly and to save their services to the government. It is not in any sense an expression of approval by the War Department of illicit intercourse. Its use appears to reduce the liability to venereal disease among those exposed to about one third of what it would be without prophylaxis. 2. On the basis of the foregoing, it is announced as the policy of the War Department to continue to promote sex morality by: (a) Encouragement of continence. (b) Encouragement of efforts to eliminate prostitution. (c) Provision of supervised medical prophylactic facilities for men exposed to disease. (d) Thorough treatment of disease acquired. (e) Punishment for failure to use prophylaxis after exposure. X EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AT CHICAGO, APRIL 25, 1919 Resolved: That it is the sense of the Executive Committee that we cordially endorse, and desire to coöperate with efforts of the United States government and the various state governments and municipal authorities in stamping out venereal diseases throughout the United States. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WHEREAS, Prostitution is the main source of the venereal diseases, which cause inestimable economic loss, as well as broken lives and homes; and WHEREAS, The United States government during the war carried on a relentless campaign for the repression of prostitution and the control of venereal diseases, which resulted in keeping the army and navy fit to fight, with a corresponding benefit to the civil population; and WHEREAS, The federal government, through the Public Health Service and the Interdepartmental Social Hygiene Board, continues to assist the states with federal appropriations and personnel; and WHEREAS, The main burden of law enforcement falls upon police departments, which are sometimes inadequately equipped with laws, personnel, and funds; be it RESOLVED, That the International Association of Police Chiefs endorses the campaign for the repression of prostitution and the control of venereal diseases, and believes that it should be continued with redoubled vigor hereafter, and also urges the adoption by the states and municipalities of better laws for the accomplishment of such purpose, and the appropriation of larger sums for its fulfillment. AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, JUNE 7, 1917 Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED: That the American Medical Association endorses the actions of Congress and the Council of National Defense and commends the following as the basis for a program of civil activities: 1. That sexual continence is compatible with health and is the best prevention of venereal infections; 2. That steps be taken toward the prevention of venereal infections through the prevention of prostitution, and by the provision of suitable recreational facilities, the control of alcoholic drinks, and other effective constructive measures; 3. That plans be adopted for centralized control of venereal infections through special divisions of the proper public health and medical services; 4. That the hospitals and dispensaries be encouraged to increase their facilities for early treatment and follow-up service for venereal diseases as a measure of national efficiency; 5. That the members of the medical profession be urged to make every effort to promote public opinion in support of measures instituted in accordance with these principles of action in the control of venereal diseases. RESOLUTIONS AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION RESOLVED, That the Association strongly endorses the program for the protection of our armed forces in future years as outlined in the report of the Committee on Venereal Diseases of the Section of Public Health Administration and pledges its support of civilian coöperative measures for making these programs effective; also that the Association heartily endorses the program of the United States Interdepartmental Social Hygiene Board and of the United States Public Health Service for combating venereal diseases, and hereby offers the active coöperation of its officers, members, and the Committee on Venereal Diseases in promoting this program, and urges the coördination of federal and state activities everywhere in the United States to this end. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, 39TH ANNUAL CONVENTION, 1919, RESOLUTION NO. 144 WHEREAS, From investigations conducted by the government it is learned that the spread of venereal diseases has caused an alarming condition to exist throughout the nation. According to figures prepared by the surgeon general of the army, approximately 200,000 cases of venereal diseases were treated in the army, and of this number more than 160,000 men came into the service already infected. This cross-section of America's manhood demonstrates a terrible and deplorable physical condition of our country; and WHEREAS, Statements made by the surgeon general of the United States. Public Health Service show that most of the congenital blindness is due to gonorrheal infection of the mother; that most cases of abdominal operations on women are due to this disease; that most cases of venereal infection in married women come from infection contracted in earlier life by their husbands; that syphilis is filling the insane asylums and feeble-minded institutions of the country; that defectives of many classes, due to syphilis, are becoming an increasing burden on the people of the United States; and WHEREAS, Statistics issued by the Public Health Service show that prostitution causes most of the spread of venereal diseases, and it is an unfortunate fact that prostitutes are recruited largely from among working girls and women; and WHEREAS, The government, with the coöperation of the states, has by a comprehensive program of education, medical treatment, and law enforcement demonstrated that the spread of these diseases can be controlled and their ravages reduced; therefore be it RESOLVED, That the American Federation of Labor in convention assèmbled heartily endorses the efforts of the United States Public Health Service, coöperating with the various states, in combating the spread of venereal disand be it further eases; RESOLVED, That we call upon organized labor to familiarize themselves with the government's program of combating these diseases and to assist in every possible manner the eradication of these scourges of civilization. RESOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ROTARY CLUBS, SEPT. 1918. IT IS RESOLVED, that the board recognizes and accepts Rotary's opportunity to undertake to support and coöperate with the governments of the countries in which official programs exist to combat venereal diseases ..; and IT IS RESOLVED, that the board pledges the active coöperation of the Association and its member clubs to assist in every possible way this vitally important work, it being understood that any governmental department desiring to work through Rotary Clubs will develop a program of procedure for each community and advise the board and the several clubs regarding such program and the part which Rotary Clubs may take in it and that such department will furnish the necessary printed matter, and so far as possible the services of representatives for the conduct of this work in each community; and IT IS RESOLVED, that the general officers and the district governors of Rotary are directed to coöperate heartily in this work to their utmost ability without neglecting such other work in Rotary as it is their duty to perform. GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS, JUNE 16, 1920 RESOLVED, That we, the General Federation of Women's Clubs in biennial convention assembled, commend the stand of the United States government with reference to the moral protection of our fighting forces and pledge our hearty coöperation with all recognized agencies engaged in making such protection possible for our young men and women in civil life; and be it further RESOLVED, That we urge our state public health committees (1) to emphasize in their educational programs the need of the individual to understand the physiology and psychology of the life forces; (2) to urge local clubs to study 'the social problems involved in the misuse and misunderstanding of the life forces and to work intelligently and consistently for the amelioration of these conditions. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS: PLANKS FROM ITS SOCIAL HYGIENE PLATFORM (a) Impartial administration of all laws and regulations, as between men and women, that no sanction be given to a double standard of morality, and that women's health be protected equally with that of men. (b) Physical and mental fitness certificates as a prerequisite for marriage licenses. (c) Uniform marriage and divorce laws throughout the United States. (d) Public appropriations for the dissemination of education in the laws of physical, mental, and racial health. (e) Coöperation with all recognized agencies for promoting the socialhygiene program by means of educational, recreational, remedial, and legislative effort. PLANK ON SOCIAL HYGIENE PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO THE PLATFORM COMMITTEES OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS. We commend the effort for moral protection of the fighting forces of the nation made during the World War, and we urge a continuance of appropriations to carry on an active campaign for the prevention of venereal disease and for public education in sex hygiene. ΧΙ LEGISLATION FOR THE REPRESSION OF PROSTITUTION Additional legislation needed for the repression of prostitution includes the following suggested laws: 1. The Vice Repressive Law,21 which makes it an offense, a. To keep, set up, maintain, or operate any place, structure, or conveyance for purpose of prostitution, assignation, or lewdness;22 b. To occupy 23 any such place for such purpose, or to permit 24 such a place to be so used; c. To receive, or offer, or agree to receive any person into such place for such a purpose, or to permit them to remain therein for such a purpose; 25 d. To direct, take, or transport, or agree, or offer to do so, any person to any such place with knowledge or reason to know that the purpose of such directing, etc., is prostitution, lewdness, or assignation;20 21 The vice repressive law in its entirety has been enacted in Conn., Del., Md., Maine, N, H., N. C., N. D., Ohio, R. I., and Vermont. 22 Laws of this nature exist in Ala., Ariz., Cal., Colo., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ida., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Neb., Nev., N. H., N. Y., N. C., N. D., Ohio, Okla., Ore., Pa., R. I., S. D., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W. Va., Wis., Wyo. This provision does not exist in Ark., Ky., La., N. J., N. M., and S. C. The law in Ala. and Miss. should be amended to increase the penalty, and in Mo. to include the owner of the premises. 23 This provision exists only in the above enumerated states which have the vice repressive law in toto, and is needed in all other states. 24 Similar provisions exist in Ariz., Conn., Del., Kan., Maine, Md., Mass., Neb., N. H., N. Y., N. C., N. D., Ohio, R. I., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wis. The laws in Ind., Mich., Minn., Okla., and S. D. should be amended to include all places, structures, or conveyances. 25 This provision exists only in the states enumerated in Note 21 as having the vice repressive law, and is needed in all other states. 26 This provision exists in the states named in Note 21 and also in Ga. and La., and is needed in all other states. |