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CHAPTER XI
PLEAS
FOR many years both of us now writing of this
hook have been constantly among the working
classes, who form, perhaps, the most sensitive
audience with which one can deal. Therefore,
if we could put before the mass of people in
this country, and before the working-class
men especially, the horrible cruelties that
have been practised upon unfortunate girls,
we believe that they would take the matter
in hand and deal with it. And they have
votes. One can see how quickly politicians
run to the people when they want anything
from them, and, once they arouse public
opinion, nothing can interfere with the
course the people wish to pursue. We do
not mean to say that this is the only power
to be invoked on behalf of the unfortunate
women we plead for here the slaves of this
horrid traffic. The educated and cultured,
and those who have money, position, and
power, could of course do a very great deal
if they wanted to. The question always is,
Will they want to ? And the Press ? we are
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