The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-18
that the Mann act or white slave law. has

that the Mann act. or white slave law. has
done what it was planned to DO" the
most emphatically and state that It does
not. Under the Pollock Interpretation OF
the law. its very spirit , is murdered ana
take another mans wife or sister. or any
other woman, across the state line with
immunity unless 1t can be shown that he
did so for mercenary purposes. Also. the
Pollock decision makes q woman an equal
partner in the crime and thereby takes
away her opportunity to testify because ca.a,e
liable to a penitentiary sentence.
MIR. Robertson says also that the Mann
act has put organized and commercialized
vice out Of business. This statement is
based solely on ignorance. The Mann act
has not and cannot accomplish this be
or state vice conditions, and a federal
law can only deal with Interstate actions.
Wanted His Views.
"Mr. Robertson further says that he is
perfectly willing for his views to be pub
lished.'' the speaker continued. and we
were perfectly willing that they be made
known before our congress. 1t looks to me
like he is trying to soothe his conscience
for refusing to assist in the passage Of
the Kansas white slave law when he was
a member OF the legislature in 1911.
Regarding the three men that the dis
trict attorney says he has ready to send
out on any case that Is reported in his
that was reported to his Office from Par
sons last summer by the county attorney.
One OF these agents did come down, and
after a sort Of an Investigation rendered
a decision that there was nothing to the
case notwithstanding the fact that letters
sent through the mails and signed by the
man himself showed that he had in
fluenced one Of the girls involved to go to
Missouri.
Mr.. Robertson says that If there is any
good evidence that there is a white slave
trust he will put 1t out of the business.
What l would consider good evidence he
might not; and then he could not put it
out of business except in its Interstate
phases.
HE admits that there has been organ
lied and commercialized vice but says
that there 10 no more. VIII he kindly tell
what organizations ever existed, where
they operated and when they were dis
solved? He acknowledges rnere has been
a combination of white slave traders and
II he can not prove the time and place
they were dissolved, I maintain upon his
own assertions that said organizations
still exist
Issues a Challenge.
Mr.. Roberts concluded his interview by
s to ne good peep to
Keep them from giving their assistance
to the cause.
kind in the world. We have held the
largest purity congress known in history.
The governors and many governments
have officially recognized us and sen.
years and it is up to the general public
to believe whether or not the societies
| constituting our federation are con-
scientious. intelligent and informed on the
subjects with which they DEAL as Broth
er Robertson suggests they should be.
The public conscience to, the great
aroused not by people like Mr.. Robertson
| who try to hold sentiment down, but by
purity and clean life workers. II Mr..
Robertson still thinks the Mann law has
done what it was proposed to do. will
gladly meet him in a public discussion Of
the subject at any time or any place"