San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-02-13

1
pressing themselves as being Of the
opinion that the crowd was COM
prised in the main Of female lobby
lists who for want OF something
/ better to do, were going around over
the country meddling in legisla-
ton on sentimental basis that
was dangerous as well as biased.
Through their influence the bill
was so amended that even COM
mon prostitute was given full lati-
tude to work the Matchmaking
racket to her hearts desire, and her
pecuniary remuneration. 1t placed
mankind wholly at the mercy of
womankind, with no redress and
no opportunity of proving himself
innocent. These lobbyists, while
thew aWed the senators for the first
day, lost their influence by their
own actions. This came about when
Senator Bailey, of Tarrant, made
his speech against increasing the
age from II years. Upon this Oc-
casion some of the female lobbyists
proceeded to hiss him, and this
very promptly reused the ire Of
the Senators who proceeded to do
pretty much as they pleased after
this insult had been openly offered
them. In his speech, which was a
remarkably fine one, Senator Bailey
said: 81 am aware Mr.. President
that it takes much fortitude to
arise and express myself against
this amendment, but 1 would be
recreant to the trust imposed by
my people and false to myself
should 1 permit my maudlin SEN
timent to reserve the expressions
of my opinion. Ballot after ballot
has been taken looking to the
adoption of this and similar
amendments and / am unwilling
further to place myself on record
without at least having the side Of
the question represent presented
for consideration of the members OF
the Senate, nor shall l permit a
formidable array OF women who
are here now lobbying for this
amendment to deter me from do
ing what / conceive to be my duty.
| am willing to have the law
changed, as this bill promises rails
ing the age of consent from II to
IA years, but beyond that period l
fear we would be treading on dan
gerous ground. At the age of IA
in this our Southern climate many
Of our girls are fully developed
women and are able in every sense
Of the word, to protect their virtu-
Gus womanhood. Should the
amendment just offered to raise
the age Of consent to Is years be
adopted it would be fraught with
much mischief and place in the
hands of the procuress a fright
full source Of blackmail. lOur boys
from 10 to 20 years OF age,
yielding to the seductive in
1uence and girl under eigh-
teen years, prompted by the
will Of a procuress would under
the amendment sought to be
adopted be guilty of a crime of
rape and liable under the law to
the severest punishment that is
now melted out to our worst class
Of criminals. No man on the floor of
this Senate has a higher regard
for womanhood than myself, but
the ste facts Of observation impel
me to say that all eshonesty and
purity does not belong to the fe-
male sex. That there are some
dishonest women as we'll as corrupt
men, and that all girls under Is
years Of age are not pure, nor have
they always mothers who are be-
yond reproach. This amendment
to the bill would place in the hands
Of INSCRIPTIONS women an instru-
ment Of Matchmaking that would
more than counter balance the
good sought to be accom-
plished. consider the amend
ment reflection on the
ability of those girls to protect
their virtue who make any honest
living 'as typewriter or amanuen-
sis in the offices of our professional
men and in the counting rooms Of
our mercantile establishments.
Shall it go out to the world that
the chivalry of our southern men is
not sufficient to protect the virtue
of our southern women? The law,
as it now exists, and as the bill
now extends it, is intended to pro-
tect infant girls without discre-
| ton, but the amendment seeks to
include full-grOwn women. Has
southern manhood become so de-
graded that it is necessary for us to
protect our daughters by the enact
ment of a law originally intended