THE GIRL THAT DISAPPEARS
ter. That is why it is easier for a white slaver, when his victim dies—and the average life of a woman in the underworld scarcely exceeds five years—to go to Europe and bring a new victim from there. Easier and cheaper, he figures, in the long run.
As far back as 1902 the governments of Europe were well aware that there was such a thing as an international traffic in women. In July, 1902, delegates from various powers met in Paris and completed a project of arrangement for the suppression of white slave traffic. Within two years the stipulations of this project were signed by the governments of every European state. The Government of the United States was the last to sign, and was the last to bring itself to take any action. By an act of Congress of the United States in February, 1907, there was created a Congressional Immigration Commission to inquire into the traffic. Unfortunately the appropriation made was not
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