The Washington times., 1917-01-15
WHITE SLAYELAW
UPHELD BY COURT
Nations Highest Tribunal A.
firms Diggs-caminetti
Sentence.
CONTINUED from First Page. }

DlgBs were convicted; or to transport
an unmarried woman, under eighteen
years of age, with the intent to in
duce her to engage in prostitution
debauchery and immoral practices, fol
which Hayes was convicted, would
seem by the very statement of the
facts to embrace transportation for
purposes denounced by the act and
therefore, fairly within its meaning
OF the plea OF the defense that
the law opens the doors to blackmail.
ers, he said:
'The fact, IL ii be so, that the act
as II is written opens the door to
blackmailing operation on a large scale,
is no reason why the courts should
refuse to enforce 1t, according to its
terms, IL within the constitutional au-
thority Of Congress. Such considera-
tions are more appropriately left to
the legislative branch of the Govern
ment, which alone had authority to
the law"
The Dissenting Opinion.
In the dissenting opinion, written
by Justice McKenna and concurred in
by Chief Justice White and Justice
Clarke, it was argued that it is
natural always to resort for explana-
tion of a law to its first words. Tho
| transportation made unlawful, It was
| said, was of woman or girl to be-
come a prostitute or to give herself
up to debauchery or to engage in any
other immoral practice"
The intent of the white slave law,
the dissenting Justices held, Is to sup
press "the white slave traffic, COM
mAFrfal urfno
mercenary purpose"
That Congressman Mann in writing
the law said there wEpo intention
to interfere with the Q powers of
the States was anot reason for
holding the law was intended to
cover non-commercial VICE
The result" the opinion summed up,
sis grave, and should give us pause"
subject of Cabinet Discussion.
Because of the prominence and
standing of the principals, the Diggs-
Caminetti case has occupied national
attention since the elopement of +.
Drew Cammetti and Maury I. Diggs
with Lola Norris, nineteen, and Mar
tina. Warrington, twenty, March 10,
1918.
Trial OF the young men on white
slavery charges in Sacramento de-
veloped many sensations, and at one
time was the subject of Cabinet dis
cussion.
Before the first trial United States
Attorney McNab resigned, declaring
as a reason for his resignation thar
his hands had been tied in the prose-
cution Of the Diggs-Caminetti case by
the Attorney General
Urged Cases BE Pushed.
Resolutions for a Congressional
probe quickly followed. McNab was
Republican holdover. and was ac-
cused Of injecting politics into the
case. Shortly after his resignation
and sensational statement his assist
ant was suspended by wire, and the
case was the subject of long and ac.
crimonious debate in Congress.
The men in the case, both married.
and the two girls, who were unmar-
ried. lived together four days at Reno
following the elopment. IL was al
legged. before they were arrested on
complaint Of the fathers OF the young
women.
May 10 the men were indicted for
violating the Mann white slave act. put
under bonds of $4,000 each. and their
cases put on the June calendar for
trial Citizens all over California
petitioned District Attorney McNab to
push the cases.
Sensational DeveIopments.
Sensational developments followed
rapidly. as shown in the following
brief chronicle of events leading to
the first trial:
May 27-United States Attorney Nc.
Nab wires Attorney General Mercy
nolds that both prisoners were boast
ing Of their Influence a twashing-
ton," and that strenuous efforts were
being made to secure postponement
of trials; also that bribery and per-
jury were being used In their behalf.
June 1S-Secretary OF Labor Will
son telephones McReynolds that
Commissioner of immigration Cami-
netti, who has applied for leave of
absence to attend the trial OF his son,
cannot be spared"
June 19-McReynolds telegraphs
McNab to postpone the cases till
fall.
June 21-McNab sends in resiRna- |
tion to President Wilson.
June 22-McReynolds' comment: |
I'm not shedding any tears: he is a |
Republican"
June 23-Secretary of Labor Wilson
assumes responsibility, for Mercy
nClds' action. A Cabinet meeting is |
called and President Wilson overrules
McReynolds and orders the cases |
rushed.
President Rebuked McNab.
June 24-The President accepts Nc
Nab's resignation with q rebuke for
giving "his resignation the form of |
an inexcusable intimation OF injustice
and wrongdoing." In a letter to Nc |
Reynolds he says: 81 am entirely |
satisfied that the course you took in
these cases was prompted by sound |
and impartial judgment and a clear
insight for what was fair and right"
June 2S-James c. Mann, Republic
an leader, bitterly attacks McReyn-
olds and Secretary Wilson, both CabI.
net officers.
July 6-The papers print the sup
pressed correspondence between Nc
Reynolds and McNab and others,
showing the Attorney General knew
of the seriousness OF the case.
July 19-Republicans start fin-
buster in Senate to secure a full dis.
cussion Of the case.
July 26-Filibuster ends with vic
tory for Republicans.
August 5-TriaI began.
Men and women fought for admis.