In 1913, a legislative committee tried to eliminate prostitution. Chaired by Sen. Howard Teasdale, of Sparta, it began by sending hundreds of questionnaires to civic leaders around the state.

When nearly all of them denied having a prostitution problem in their towns, Teasdale hired undercover agents to infiltrate taverns and brothels. He held hearings in 13 Wisconsin cities and subpoenaed everyone from priests to prostitutes.

That research revealed that criminal immorality was widespread. In Superior alone, 21 brothels employed more than 250 women. Most reported they had not been coerced into the profession, but had simply discovered that as prostitutes, they could earn three to 10 times the wages paid to women in factories, shops or domestic service. The vast majority showed no desire to give up "the sporting life."

Teasdale also discovered the profits generated by prostitution flowed out of brothels and into real estate, banking and the courts. Houses that rented for $15 a month in other neighborhoods went for $150 in red light districts. Fines were a crucial source of revenue for city treasuries. And madams were generous supporters of local politicians (some of whom were customers).

Prostitution was simply woven into Wisconsin 's economic infrastructure.

The commission discreetly backed off. Deciding instead that alcohol was the root of the evil, they threw their efforts behind the burgeoning prohibition movement. Liquor was made illegal from 1919 to 1933.

But vice, like human nature, remained largely unchanged.

-- Wisconsin Historical Society
www.wisconsinhistory.org

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