The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-01-20

investigate whether 1t was true o
not that children were being over
worked and abused in the outskirt
of her own city, l sought the reason
for this and found, for example, tina
the most prominent political women
organization was absorbed in a fac
tiOnal fight. In February, whel
knowledge of the condition of tn,
abuse of child-labor first became pub
lie, this women's political organiza
ton held meeting at which thu
members fought with their fists
Women who wore false hair lost it
and one woman lost handful of rea
hair. Their debate was not over the
outrages committed on children ir
their State; it concerned the choice
of oneof their number for indorse.
ment to an unimportant Office. In
May, when l was there and the en-
ployment of children in factories was
more widely discussed, this same wo-
mems political organization was alb
sorbed in more desperate fight; one
faction was striving to have the treas
urer arrested for refusing to distri-
butte the funds of the organization as
this minor faction desired.
l found, too, that no proof of age,
other than the mere statement of the
child or parent, is required in any of
the four suffrage States, whereas
nineteen States require documentary
proof of age. None of the States
where women vote is in this last list.
Women are Bound by Political Exped-
iency as Well as Men.
l could not understand this singu-
larly lax condition, so l sought Judge
Ben Lindsey, of the Juvenile Court,
who is outspoken his theoretical be-
lief in woman suffrage. He admitted
that the conditions in Colorado were
far from what they ought to be, and
was frank to say that the women of
his State are fully as much bound
by the political expediency of the
as the are men.
Then he told me of his experience
in the last Legislature. He had seven
bills affecting the Juvenile Court
which he asked to be passed. They
were all drawn with an eye to the
protection of children and were mo-
ieled on proved legislation elsewhere.
When it came to submitting them to
the Legislature he asked the one
woman member of the lower house
o introduce them. The woman mem
Der introduced the bills. The wo-
mems clubs publicly Endorsed them,
md women went to the State House
% lobby for them. Three" said
Judge Lindsey, concerned technical
rivialities in the reading of the law
ind were of no particular moment
except that they would expedite legal
procedure. One of them was revolu-
ionary and vital. Three concerned
important changes in the law"
The first three were passed, The
asst four never got out of the COM
nittee. The unimportant bills got
through; the important ones are still
igeonholed. Yet California, Illinois
nd Massachusetts, where women do
OF vote, have found no difficulty in
assing similar laws.
Judge Lindsey could not explain
'hy his laws failed of passage; the |
oman member of Legislature would |
OF. But I found an old State Sena-
'r who told me the truth.
"The Legislature has nothing
gainst children" he said, land If
'me sensible man had presented
lose bills and explained their need
simple, forceful language, they
ould have been passed"
| also found that the eight-hour
w for working-women failed in the
st Colorado Legislature. A similar
W went easily through the Legisla-
ire of Illinois, but was annullnd by
e Supreme Court, after which a ten
our law was passed. Now why
lould such law for women fail in
wher women vote. and pass,
Illinois, where they do not voteo
asked this of prominent official
the State of Colorado, and he an.
Vered: There is nothing that q
oman wants to accomplish that she
mot accomplish without the
Hot"
In twenty States where only men {
tie laws have been passed limiting
e hours that woman may be en-
Dyed. In not one Of re four States
lere women vote are here any laws |
stricting the hours OF labor for 6
'man EMPLOYEES. 1t
In thirty-eight States the earnings S
married woman orc coo,,vad n 4