The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-14
SHE SWAPS A LEGISLATURE
UTAH'S LAWMAKERS PASS A
THEATER HAT LAW
How She Induced the Passage of
the Bill-Her Own Experience
Gave Her the Idea-She Is a Leg
fslatOr Herself-Men Did Not
Even Suggest the Measure to Her.


Correspondence The St. Paul Globe
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. IL
The Hon. Mrs. Eurithe K. La Barthe
bears the distinction of being the only
woman who has forced legislation
against the theater hat Of the three
story variety. She is a member Of the
Utah legislature from the Eighth dis
trict, and solely through her influence
the lawmakers of the state adopted the
following:
A bill for an act to compel the removal OF
headwear at theaters, opera houses and in
door places of amusement, and providing a
penalty for the violation thereof.
Be 1t enacted by the legislature of the state
of Utah.
Section l. Any person attending theater,
opera house or an indoor place of amuse-
ment as spectator shall remove headwear
tending to obstruct the view Of any other
person.
Sec. 2. Any person violating any Of the
provisions of this act shall be subject to a
fine of not less than 81 nor more than SO for
each offense, upon conviction thereo..
Sec. 3: This act shall take effect upon its
approval.
That Is the law as it appears on
Utah's statutes. This is the way Mrs
La Barthe wanted the law to read, it
being the bill as originally introduced:
and headgear at theaters, opera houses and
indoor places of amusement.
Be 1t enacted by the legislature Of the state
of Utah:
Section l. That all parties attending the
aters, opera houses and indoor places of
amusement shall be required to remove all
kinds OF headgear that tend to sobstruct the
view of others.
Sec. 2. That managers of theaters, opera
houses and places of amusement shall provide
suitable rooms for the placing Of such wear
ing apparel
Sec. 8. That managers of theaters, opera
houses, and places Of amusement shall be
and in case Of failure to do SO. they shall be
subject to a fine of not less than $40 or more
than 500 for each offense.
Mrs. La Barthe explains in the fol-
lowing statement written by her ex-
actly why she brought about the the
alter hat legislation, and why 1t is that
the amended bill, instead Of the orig
inal, was passed. Here is what she
says:
"It was my fortune to secure the
passage by the Utah legislature of the
anti-high theater hat bill. 1t met with
little or no opposition, for every man
who has attended theatrical perform
ance and sat in the rear Of one of
those giant head coverings that my
sex is given to wearing, saw the wis
dom of it and required little or no in
ducement to vote for the same. The
law is a law both in the spirit and the
letter Of enforcement, and the theater
managers are complying with it in ev-
cry town in the state that boasts Of a
place of amusement.
1.-THE adoption of the law and the
carrying out of it's principles is proving
very satisfactory to the general pub
lie. My object in introducing this bill
was simply to protect the right Of the
atergoers, many of whom are poor peo-
pie whose means make it possible for
them to attend a theatrical entertain
ment only once in a great while The
seats they secure are, as a rule, in
the cheaper portions of the theater-
in the rear of the orchestra or balcony.
Now place high hat in front of them
when seated far back, and what could
they see? Nothing at all. They pay
dollar or more for seat oftentimes,
and are certainly entitled to receive
the full pleasure the entertainment Of
fers.
1.-THE present style Of hat and head
gear, as you well know, is extreme as