The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-01-07

ana anC North Carolina have refused to ratify,
states rights being the determining issue. Massa-
chusetts, which next meets In 1925, did not act IN
1924, but the people rejected the amendment In
a referendum.
The General Federation Of Womens Clubs and
most organizations Of women are working for
the amendment. The American Federation of La
Dor is carrying active campaign for Its rati-
fcation The National grange is as squarely
against the amendment. The A. f. L. attitude is
this
"It is not only for economic reasons that the
citizenship of country Is urged to ratify the
proposed amendment to the Constitution. 1t Is
one Of the highest duties Of the men and women
of our time to safeguard the childhood of Ameri-
ca"
a N INTERESTING mile post In woman's
"A march to full citizenship will be reached in
1925 when women seen governors of the
states of Wyoming and Texas 1t Is a fact OF
course that in many Of the states women do not
stand In exact equality with men before the law.
This due to two things: Old laws that discrim-
mate against her and laws that give her spe-
cial privileges because Of her sex. The women
leaders have split Into two camps on this ISSUE
Both camps want legislation. The League
Of Women Voters is campaigning to secure action
through the state legislatures thus retaining spe
cial privileges already granted. The National
Constitution giving equality before the law,
regardless of existing laws
The Texas election apparently settled one vexed
question. legal battle was waged against the
eligibility of the woman candidate on the ground
that not qualified, in the absence Of
special enabling legislation to hold the office OF
governor the law invariably using the pronoun
me" instead Of the qualifying phrase, "he or she"
How about the poll tax that obtains in many
states? In New Hampshire went to jail
a public protest against the payment Of this
tax. Unfortunately a sympathetc-or unsympa-
thetic-frlend paid the tax so there was no legal
decision on the issue raised.
In the meantime the United States War depart
ment has begun study intended to give American
women recognized place in the army 'in all
branches of the military service in case Of future
emergency involving a maximum effort" That
would seem to include everything from making
Red Cross bandages to womaning machine gun
And of course everyone knows that the American
woman can fight If she has to and will not be sat
ished until she has the right
THE New Year will see an increase in the num-
Der Of motor vehicles and In automobile traf.
fc Five million new vehicles are likely to be
made and sold. There now approximately IT.
OOOOOO motor vehicles Four million of these
more than six years old, will go to the junk pile
Net Increase, one million
The New Year will also see corresponding In
crease Of the appalling slaughter Of the American
peope-unless the nation bestirs Itself quickly and
vigorously In 1923 the loss from traffic accidents
was 22eOO human lives, 67SO00 serious personal
Injuries and an economic loss Of 5000, 900 900. The
year 1924 saw about 2400O fatal accidents: 1925
will probably make new slaughter record of
about $4,000.
Speeding and violation Of the rules Of the road
are the greatest contributing factors where motor
lists are at fault. Pedestrians almost as
many accidents motorists in cases where pedes-
TRANS are killed. There Is an obvious necessity
for systematic effort to gain accurate and complete
data concerning traffic accidents, their types,
causes and methods of prevention. Sooner later a
mental and physical test will have to be applied to
all applicants for licenses Doubtless inferior In
telllgence slow minds and muscles and defective
eyesight are responsible in large part.
Illinois may pass licensing law providing for
mental and physical tests; such bill will be in
troduced In the legislature In January and pressed
Other states will probably consider similar bills |
Nine states have already made beginning In tha
testing OF eyesight