The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-07-11
PASSES RED LIGHT
BILL
lLeft over from last weekl

uSoH ICJOlCiuS III Inc pasoaS sc VI INC
red light bill in California. How it
was done is told in The Survey.
The bill as passed was sponsored
by the w. c. 7. u, and endorsed by
the State Federation of Women's
clubs aud the California Civic league
thus rallying to its support the many
! thousands of women who were given
the vote by last years suffrage
amendment. 1t is a significant fact
that the measure, though approved
by many men, was formally endorsed
only by ministerial bodies. The
large property interests involved and
the subterranean coercion of liquor
and certain rea estate interests,
made it impossible to obtain the for
nal support of commercial crganiza-
lions.
A picturesque episode of the cam
paign lay in the selection of Edwin
D. Grant of San Francisco, to intro
duce the bill in the senate, for Sen
ator Grant is the successor of a we'll
known politician, Eddie Wolfe, who
had mis-represented San Francisco
for sixteen years in the legislature.
The replacing of Wolf by Grant was
one of the first political esults of
woman suffrage in the city.
Although young and relatively in
experienced, Mr.. Grant stood the rid
icule of the reactionary press that
constantly heckled him as the hoy
reformer," and, with the support of
older men on the floor, got his bill
through without any weakening a
mendments.
The debates in both houses over
this bill brought clearly into view
the high political and social ideals of
the younger and more recently elect
ed members of the legislature; and
it proved that the women of Cali
fornia, though wholly inexperienced
in politics, knew what they wanted
and would stand solidly for it. They
won not by lobbying, but by syste-
matte education of the constituencies
of the legislators. 1t is reported
that one legislator asked doubtful
colleague if he intended to vote for
the bill and the other replied Don't
| I have to go homer" The floor
leader of the senate complained pub
licly of the threats" of his constit-
uents, who had urged him to vote
for the bill, and said that they would
remember their enemies as we'll as
old settlements on the river banks,
the country is no longer harried by
swarms of irregular soldiers, and
their friends. Assemblyman Nelson,
chairman of the assembly public
morals committee, said that he re-
ceived 1900 letters on this subject
during the recess.
In the senate strong effort was
made by Senator Beban, of Sanfran-
cisco, to sidetrack it by substitute
ing an investigation into the rela
ton of .womens wages and vice
But the senate refused to postpone
the injunction bill until this special
committee should report, and in
spite of five hour debate, chiefly
carried on by those who were trying
to explain pfausibly why they were
going to vote against it, the measure
passed by vote of 20 to II.
Thus, out of legislature of 100
members, only % voted against the
bill, and of these a majority were
from San Francisco, and from Ala
media county.
After the bill had passed, final
dramatic touch was given by the de-
mand of certain so-called "real es.
tate" interests in San Francisco ior
a hearing before the governor. The
governor announced public hearing
to which same about forty persons,
both men and women, representing
all the more important protective,
civic and moral associations of north
ern California. The opponents, who
perhaps had hoped to get private
hearing, did not appear; whereupon
the governor signed the bill.
Meanwhile, even before the bill
was signed, money had been raised
and tentative plans made for taking
care of the women and girls who
should be thrown out of the segre-
gated districts.
These plans are now being extend
ed to cover the whole state 1t is
expected that the companion meas
ure, a state training home for girls,
which carries an appropriation of
| 100000, will also pass, and this
will ultimately provide for minors
and those who go through the pro-
| 4. - e. II. IL.