The Washington herald., 1914-01-12
SPEAKERS LAUD
RED.LIGHT' BILL
Injunction Plan Works Well
in Iowa, Says Represent
ative Towner.
OTHER STATES ADOPT IT
DR.. Crafts. at Reform Bureau Meeting,
Urges Hearers to Work for Favor
able House Action.

The Kenyon red light Injunction bill
and the promotion of its passage in the
House was discussed by prominent
Congregational Church yesterday aft
ernoon, Rev. W. R. wedderspoon. presi-
dent of the International Reform Bureau,
whose auspices the meeting was
held, presiding.
Representative Horace NJ. Towner, Of
Iowa, where the injunction and abate-
ment' plan of suppressing the social evil
has been in force for three years, in
submitting proofs that the law reduced
the social evil to its lowest terms, said
that when the Iowa law had been in
operation only eight months in Des
Moines, its champion. Mayor Hanna, was
elected by only sixteen majority, but
after two years more of enforcement his
majority was more than 5000. The dis
trict attorney also was elected by an
increased majority.
Mr. Towner said the vice commissions
of Chicago and Minneapolis sent secret
agents to ascertain the real results OF
the law in Des Moines. and both reported
that il had reduced the social evil to
a minimum.
The good effects of the law in Iowa"
continued Representative Towner. led
Nebraska to adopt a similar law after
ii had been in force less than two years,
and when it had been in force about
three years ten other States adopted it.
Criticises Magazine Article.
DIR. Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent Of
the reform bureau, called attention to a
magazine article on the proposed clean
up of the District and, while commenting
the article as a whole, said its criticism
of the new House District Committee for
alleged delay in not reporting the bill was
not justified. for, although the committee
has had the bill since October 1t was not
in order in the House to report bills other
than those on the tariff and the currency
in the special session.
What is now in order" said DR..
Crafts, lis for the people Of the District
to convince the members Of the House
District Committee that the act is a good
one and that public sentiment in the Dis
trict is favorable toNits passage"
Remarks favoring the passage Of the
bill were made by many officials of local
organizations, including John B. Colpoys.
a director of the Y. NJ. c. A; !. H.
Crabill Christian citizenship superinten-
dent of the Christian Endeavor Union:
Mrs. Rosetta E. Lawson, of the colored
peoples social center; Mrs. Emma s.
Shelton, president of the District W. c.
T. u. and Mrs. Belle. c. Culbertson,
president of the Interdenominational Un-
ion.
Prof. McKeever to Speak.
II was announced that, in anticipation
Of the early passage Of the act, Prof.
W. A. McKeever, specialist on purity
and general uplift work for boys, will
speak in this city on Washington's birth
day, and Mrs. Booth-Clibborn. eldest
daughter of Gen. Booth, of the Salvation
Army. will be heard lin this city during
Easter week.
1t was stated that the International
Reform Bureau last week had cleared
of the last encuubrsnce on its property.
and that Of the affiliated International
Moral and Social Commission, consisting
of three lots. one Of them with an old
mansion on II, and that, as a centennial
celebration of the occupancy of what is
now the Reform Bureaus Office by the
United States Supreme Court on the
burning of the Capitol in 1914. an endow-
ment building will be begun this year on
the two vacant lots, $4,000 having been
subscribed.