Valdez daily prospector., 1917-01-27
EsCAPADEs INCLUDED
 IN THE WHITE SLAVE LAW

AlthOugn the supreme COuTt udu previously upheld constitutionality of the Mann white slave act, the Quce- ton of whether it prohibits inter- state transportation of women only for commercial vice or applies to the mere personal immoral escapades having an element of commercialism or coercion has been disputed ever since the laws enactment.
 Interpretation by the Supreme Court of the disputed point was ask ed in the celebrated Diggs-C -Caminetti cases and the case of L. T. Hays Of Ava, Okla. In all three cases the government conceded there was no element of tariff for gain.
 Caminetti was sentenced 10 iS months imprisonment and tinei $500. Diggs was sentenced to two years and $2OOO fine. Hays had an IS months prison sentence. All have been at liberty under bail
 Lower courts and different admin
 
 tice have differed over the laws in- depreciation. Various women's clubs and other organizations have agitat- ed for an interpretation to curb all immortality, whether commercial pr not.
 Two other important questions ;cn x.,ln nf- complices and whether men might be convicted solely upon a woman's un- corroborated testimony.
 While Diggs and Caminetti volun- tarily gave some testimony they re- fused some further testimony and the trial judge instructed the jury to consider such refusal in reaching their verdict. Diggs and Caminetti contended that violating the Consti- tutional clause exempting persons; from testifying against themselves. The Ninth federal circuit court. how ever, held that, under various preoc dents, the trial courts charge was JuSllHou, tlc uclcHudHtS tCotiiyi III S voluntarily but only in part. The defendants contended that Congress never intended to include, with classification as felonies, offenses which are misdemeanors in most States but aimed the law against per sons transporting women victims r commercialized white slave traffic. Although Attorney General Wick ersham. in office when the law Was passed. ruled that it did not apply e personal escapades, the succeeding $ administration held otherwise. Tine Second, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Federal circuit courts of appeal have sustained the broader Incorporation while other federal courts have held only for the commercial construction. Diggs and Caminetti were tried and convicted separately, the former on August 20, 1913, and the latter on September 5, 1913. Their cases were consolidated and affirmed March 12, 1J10, Dy the NlntH ClTCult court. III the supreme court all three cases were advanced, both sides desiring carly settlement of the disputed ques tions, and argued together in No"eni- Der, 1916, Assistant Attorney Gen. cral Wallace representing the gov ernment and former Senator Bailey 0i Texas, Marshall B. Woodsworth of San Francisco and H. o. Chaser of Enid, Okla, the defendants.
 Justice McReynolds took no part in considering the three cases, being disqualified in having been attoTre ey general during prosecution of the three defendants.
 Upon the Supreme Courts deci- sion future prosecutions under rho act are dependent, including several persons under indictment and await ing trial, including Jack Johnson. the negro pugiiist, convicted at Chicago ! in 1913. Johnson is now a fugitive from justice in Europe.
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