Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-18
Legislation Favorable to Women and
Children Endorsed By G. H. Martin

IN a letter to Mrs. Bertha Stull
Green. of Mountain Home, chairman
of the legislative committee Of the
Idaho Federation Of Womens clubs,
G. II. Martin, Progressive candidate
for governor. tells of the legislation
favorable to women and children and
other legislation in which women have
particular interest. which the Pro-
gressives propose to enact II they are
given the governmental power in the
state. Among the questions discussed
are the eight hour law for women,
uniform divorce laws, medical inspec-
ton for school children. property rights
for the wife, and others. The letter
Is as follows:
Rexburg. Ida. Oct. IA, 1912.
Bertha Stull Green. Chairman Legis-
lative Committee. Idaho Federation
of Women's Clubs, Mountain Home
Idaho.
NV Dear Madam: I have your favor
of the 14th inst enclosing copies OF
certain bills in which the Legislative
committee of the Idaho Federation of
Women's clubs are interested. In re-
sponse to your letter. l have to say:
Eight Hour Law for Women.
The copy of the California law
which you have submitted meets with
my entire approval. Our NATIONAL
platform, as you know. demands that
kind OF legislation in state and nation
and it viii be a duty and pleasure
to recommend to the Legislature OF
Idaho, If elected governor, the enact
ment of such a law in Idaho. and II
such a law Is enacted l will cheerfully
sign the same The basic principle
undo rlying every one of our platform
declarations is the conservation of
human resources, and such law in
Idaho, would be directly in line with
that platform declaration.
Uniform Divorce Laws.
A law following the lines laid down
In your communication relating to the
granting of divorces. would. In my
Judgment. be conducive to the best in
terests Of our state. The nearer such
laws can be made uniform in the sew
eral states. the better it will be for
the people of those states. No one
better understands the necessity for
such uniformity than lawyers and
judges. Our laws relating to divorce
are now too lax and too easily evad-
ed Every legislative precaution
should be adopted to make 1t certain
that no decree is ever granted ex-
cept for good cause clearly estab-
llished, and I like especially the pro-
vision that an absolute decree Of d.
vorce may not be entered in any case
until the lapse of one year from the
date OF the hearing and entry Of pre-
liminary decree.
| Medical inspection.
Your committee will. SO you tell me
ask the legislature to enact Law
providing for medical inspection. BY
competent physicians. at least once q
year. OF every pupil in our public
schools. This proposal meets with my
hearty approval. I know from expert
ence as a teacher, that pupils are man,
times unable to do good school worl
because Of some physical defect Of
ailment which could be readily cor
rected, but which, IL not speedily cor
!rected. not only retards mental devel
Iopment. but often becomes chronic
defect or ailment which the child II
never able wholly to shake off. 4
! sound mind in a sound body IL ant
should continue to be the main objec
/ OF our educational institutions. I
NAV be said that this proposed legis