The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-04-24

Sam Belford of Reno, VINO stulpeu the
state last fall for Gov. Boyle, states
that the statewide movement to refer
the divorce, gambling and race track
laws to referendum vote of the peo-
pie at the next general election has al
ready been started. In the interview
Mr. Belford is quoted as follows:
1.-The people of Nevada will never
stand for the divorce and gambling
legislation whikh was recently en-
acted. They will never submit to
the ruthless debauchery of the good
name and honor of the state. They
will never yield to the dictation or
such influences as controlled and
shaped the policies of the last egisla-
ture, influences which were corrupt
shameless and defiant.
ION the eve Of nationwide re-
covery from a depression, which Neva-
da only remotely experienced, the legis-
sature put up for sale at public aue-
ton our courts and statutes in order
chat certain individuals might save
from the wreckage few dirty dollars
for themselves. Lacking the courage
to face situation which the whole
country felt more keenly than it was
felt in Nevadat these men and organ
izations who had the power to write
our laws, sought to bridge the diff
Guilty by coming money from those evils
which the experience of mankind has
everywhere condemned. Instead of
sensible practice of economy, they pre-
scented us with an EXAMPLE of unusual
extravagance Instead of attempting
RI bui m tho of nv Legislation to
develop it's great natural resources and
to furnish employment to its people,
these men have sought false pros
perity by throwing open our gates to
Divorces, race-t track touts and n-horn
gamblers, parasites who make our con-
dition inf n.tely worse.
1T is this program we intend to
challenge and to resist and we in
tend to stay in the fight until the
people have an opportunity to exercise
their constitutional right to pass upon
the gambling and divorce legislation
they were unable to prevent.
I'VE can only win the fight by organ
ization, because we must meet an or
ganized and intrenched opposition, de-
termined to control the state just as
completely as It controlled tn legisla-
ture. But We think the result is Ger
tain l have so much confidence in the
good sense, wisdom and Judgment of
the people of Nevada, when these mat
ters are submitted to them as clean
cut issues, that l do not for moment
doubt the success of our movement.
Eve shall put al of these meas
ures to the referendum just as soon as
this remedy may lawfully be invoked
and the referendum movement will be
thoroughly organized.
''This work is already underway. We
have formed the local organization in
Reno and will extend it as rapidly as
possible throughout the state. W.
hope before long to have a complete or
ganzation in every election precinct
and county in eNvada The work will
be carefully done in order that it may
tie more effective, and it will never
stop until we have removed the incu-
bus of vicious legislation and until its
sponsors are retired permanently from
p1blic life
THE work must be non partisan
in character with questions of party
politics absolutely eliminated from
consideration. There was no party
division in the enactment of thu
legislation and there will be none r
its overthrow. We have with us mem
bers Of all political parties who easily
find their common ground in the pur-
pose we wish to accomplish
81 believe that woman's suffrage
was vital and necessary in this state,
and consequently, l worked for it un.
ceasingsy. That belief is already JUS
titled. If it Were not for the women
1t might take us years to undo what
has been done, but with their supper
the reign of the gambler, the divorces
and the race-track tout will be shor
lived.
I'm Reno. both factions of the wo-
men, taking an interest in public affairs
have sunk their differences to join in
this common purpose. The local fight
there Is merely the prelude to tn
greater fight in the state. We had t.
start the contest somewhere and thu
place to start it was where the legis
lation at which we aimed had it's ori
gin. We have nominated splendid
ticket in Reno headed by man VIII
was defeated for the legislature by tn
divorce and gambling crowd because h
Wouiu uOt SupHil " lHCii uNhiAheS'
From the Reno organization of tn
Citizens League will come the Neva
da Citizens League into which we in
vte the men and women of the state
regardless of party, who favor the an
nullment of the Objectionable laws.
This league will have two immet
late objects In view
First to conduct the referendul
campaign
"Second, to make impossible II
control of Nevada by the divorC
and gambling interests.
"This Is our program. We are n
seeking radical reforms, nor do we Q!
pect to. But we will not be dom
mated by these interests in the futu
and. II they are wise they will n
force radical reforms. II they do for