The San Francisco call., 1910-10-12
VIC. .T.U. STIRRED
BY RABBITS SPEECH
Fiery OratOry and Bitter Com
troyersy Mark the Closing
Session at Berkeley

BERKELEY, Oct. 11.-Excitementr ran
high al the meeting of the California
Women's Christian Temperance union
convention in the First Presbyterian
church this morning when a resolution
was introduced objecting to the lieens-
ing of the social evil, which had been
suggested in a speech before the con-
vention Sunday night by Rabbi Martin
A. Meyer of San Francisco.
The presentation of the resolution.
which was ultimately carried, by Rev.
Bridelle c. III. Washburn, who declared
that inasmuch as a speaker before the
convention had spoken of the regula-
tion OF houses OF Ill fame the matter
should be put in a clear light, at once
raised G storm of debate.
Mrs. J. L. Slater of Berkeley offered
resolution to the effect that no public
speaker should be allowed before any
state convention who favored the
licensing of prostitution.
In offering the resolution, Mrs. Slater,
without mentioning Rabbi Meyer s
name, strongly denounced his ideas and
declared that she had never heard in
all her life such doctrines advocated by
any speaker from any platform.
The San Francisco clergyman who as
guest Of the convention Sunday night
delivered the address on The White
Slave Traffic" had many defenders. and
at least dozen women sprang to the
floor, without recognition by the chair,
and added to the babel of excitement.
1t. was some time before order was re-
stored and the resolution carried de-
claring war on licensing of houses of
i'll fame.
After choosing Stockton for the next
meeting place, important resolutions
were passed by the convention, which
finished its five days session with a
grand prohibition rally tonight. Smok-
ing on the campus of the university
was denounced. Other resolutions
passed were
1t being well known fact that the rising
generation is in lamentable ignorance of the
holy scriptures and as this is largely the re-
schools, this organization places itself on
record as standing for its reinstatement in
the public school curriculum as literature.
We believe In the words of Frances E.
Willard in 1887. that nothing increases in
temperance like war. hence we women must
organize for peace" Therefore we protest
against the expenditure. of 40 per cent of our
revenue for militarisrn, which not only
threatens bankruptcy to the nation. but low
rife practice in our schools and the Boy
Scout movement, believing their tendency is
Believing that dancing dissipates the
strength of our high school students and dis
pursuits. we deplore the fact that it has be-
come the leading feature of many Of their
entertainments, and protest against this form
of amusement in connection with school life.
Depforing the evil effects both the
physical and moral natures of the youth of
our state through the pernicious exhibitions
OF the nickelodeons Or moving picture shows,
we declare persistent and determined war
fare against them until some means be de-
vised either to reform abolish them.
Believing that the ballot In the hands of
women is needed for their protection. espe-
q frrf fha Nun 1,nt Af i've
women, We therefore pledge support to
the cause of suffrage and ask that our women
work for the submission by the state legis-
latnres of a suffrage amendment to our con-
stitution
While fully appreciating the efforts of real
estate associations and other bodies in beaud-
flying the landscape and adorning our towns,
we deprecate the commercialism that permits
the abomination Of billboards to offend the
eye and disfgure our streets, detracting
from the beauty of our city and county
roads. and especially do We condemn the
playhouse blboards, which demoralize our
youth by keeping constantly before their
eyes false impressions of life.
We are in hearty sympathy with the juve-
nile court methods of dealing with youthful
offenders. and to further these methods we
recommend that every local union appoint a
sP % be Of this a me whose
and incorrigible children of her neighbor-
hood.
We recommend that the coming legisa-
tnre be petitioned to enact law in amend
ment TO the penal code of the state provid-
ing for the sentencing of women convicted
of drunkenness and vagrancy for the third
time. on an indeterminate sentence with
minimum of one year, to an industrial school
or reforma tory.
We tender vote of thanks to the Berke-
ley Women's Christian Temperance union for
the hearty hospitality accorded us.
BRIDELLE C. H. WASHBURN.
ANNA E. CHASE.