Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-12-06
BLEAsEs PITcHFoRK SPEECH.
Women Leave the Hail. but Return
After Speaker Sat Down. 4

Alter Speaker Sat l' own y IS e. +
Richmond, Va, Dec. Fhe ul=.
qualified declaration by Gov. Biease
Of South Carolina that Jack Johnson
would long ago have been lynchei,
withou5 executive interference, il hi
sta.e;; the statement of Miss Kate
Barnard, of Oklahoma, that 6, 00g
children annually died in the United
States from the effects Of the glass
factories alone, and Governor Oddiei..
discussion of the divorce problem, il
which ne said that marriage is a ques-:
ion of eugencis, not OF sentiment or
eligion, were some Of the sentiments
pressed yesterday at the fifth an
al governors conference here.
Gov. Bleasela dramatic spprova! OF
lynch law came during the discussion
which followed the reading Of Gov
oddie's (Nevada) paper. As the
South Carolina executive had previ-
usly shocked the conference when, or
tuesday,, he defended Judge Lynch
tsc big crowd was ready-and eager
20 go through the same experience
again. They were not disappointed
"If there is any disgrace to Ameri-
can civilization and to American WON
anhood," commenced Gov. Blease, "it
5 The sale of our women for foreign
titles. Next in order of disgraceful-
ness is the unprecedented number Of
divorces which have recently been
granted in the United States.
"There is and can be no divorce in
my state. South Carolina acknowl-
edges the inalienable sanctity of the.
marriage die, and had that negro who
boasts of the supremacy of hi: fists
made the advances to the white girl
n South Carolina that he did in ILL.,
ncis, he would have met that imemdi-
ate and summary punishment which
'rutes of his color and stamp deserve.
There would have been no interfel-
ence from higher au.nority, either.
Here Governor Carey of Wyoming,
interrupted to ask.
"Did you not, in taking the oath OF
office, swear to uphold and protect the
constitution CT South Cardinal.
Red with anger, the South Carolina
governor shouted: Twill tell you
as told the people of my state be-
fore I WEI: reelected, that if the con-
stitution comes between me and duty
rs a protector of white women-theu
20 hell with the constitution"
At the mention of the Internal reg
cons half the women present arose
and left the hall, signifying their dis
approval of the South Caroliians
language. They returned when, ?
'"w moments later, he concluded his
~an,arks.
Gov. Kitchin of North Caroline
hen injected few word. which dif.
fered materially from the speech OF
The governor of South Carolina, and
Gov. Tener of Pennsylvania had to
nut vocal oil on the troubled waters
to restore peace.
Governor Oddie, in his paper, which
started the trouble, held that the
problems of MARRIAGE and divorce arc
nllrelv sociclooical. and that the law
IF church or state which compels
nure woman to live with bestial Or
diseased hu.band is infamous in the
extreme. He also upheld the present
8ivorce laws of Nevada AZ being the
best in The country, and hoped the
other states would have the same reg
ulations.
He caused a ripple 0 laughter BY
declaring that the Reno divorce COL
onv never had more than a thousand
inhabitants every year."
At the close of the earlier session,
Miss KATE Barnard, of Oklahoma,
brought tears to the eyes of the Gov
ernora with description of the con-.
litions which she had found in factor
les throughout the country where
child labor is allowed. She concluded
with a ferven: prayer that she might
"meet any governor who didn't take
this talk to heart before the heaven
ly gates and bear witness against
him."
Governor Hadley of Missouri and
Governor Eberhardt of Minnesota also
read papers on what the state can