The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-03-07
Righteous Legislation Needed.
w. C. T. U.

w. C. T. U.
The strong and timely paper on
Modern Tendencies in Literature.
written by Mrs. Clague and given in
last weeks Gazette, reminded US
that Frances Wizards clear vision
saw here work for women to do,
and she organized a department in
the w. c. T. U. termed Purity in
Literature and Art. The germ
thought of this department is the
Bible as the highest expression of
literature. We seek the elevation
or the press and to this end scrutin-
ize the literature on the news stands,
railroads and steamboats,, library
shelves, in mail matter, bill posters,
shows, exhibitions, art galleries.
Our methods are to appeal to con-
gress, legislators, councils, magis-
trates and courts for the enforce
ment of existing and the. creation of
better laws. We use lectures and
literature to arouse public senti-
ment."
Even the stoical Indian has been
reused from his calm Indifference to
make a protest on the subject of
moving pictures to the President.
Mrs. M. D. Ellis, w. e. T. U. super
intendent Of legislation says:
"A delegation of Indians who have
been in Washington the past week,
have petitioned the President and
entered protest with Indian Commits
sioner Valentine against moving
pictures, untrue to Indian life, and
picturing them as cannibals, thieves,
etc., which are shown in many thea
tiers. These Indians claim, and right
ly, too, that such representations
are calculated to inculcate false
and disagreeable impression Of the
race, and should be prohibited.
Commissioner Valentine promises to
do whatever he can to correct the
eyil."
Mrs. Ellis also urges the claims Of
! the Burkett-Sims Anti-Gambling bill
and the Walter |. Smith Anti Prize
fight bill, the first to prevent the
transmission Of race gambling bets
by telegraph or telephone; the other
to prohibit interstate transportation
of pictures and descriptions of prize
fights. Representative Smith spoke
in advocacy Of his bill and DR.. Crafts
who was in charge of the hearing,
briefly reviewed the many steps TAX
en- to secure this desired legislation
urging its immediate passage. He
then introduced Mr.. Harry Brolaski,
the reformed gambler. who for
twenty years was a race-track fol-
lower, and who presented startling
facts connected with book-makina
and other gambling devices in the
states and cities where the members
of the Committee reside. These
statements served to arouse the in.
terest Of the Committee in an unus
ual degree, and led to close ques
tioning, which Mr.. Brolaski met
clearly and decisively. Your super.
intendent spoke for our constituent,
and presented letters from promi
nent parties in different states, re
minding the Committee that the
public would expect some more leg
islation passed during the presen
session.
If Christian people who believe il
righteous legislation would show
sufficient interest in such mora
measures as these, to send tele
gram to their Representatives, urg
ing their passage, these bills nigh
become law at this session. Other
t wise they will die with this Congress
as the anti-gambling bill has alread.
done at several sessions, AMI horse
race gambling will continue t
: thrive. annually running hundreds j
J not thousands who place their bet