HOW THE WOMEN WON IN COLORADO.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 245, 18 November 1915, Page 5

HOW THE WOMEN WON IN COLORADO.

A measure, known as the Billies Bill, was up for vote recently in Colorado. The Bill provided for the segregation of “fallen women" in certain districts, and forbidding their establishment outside of the defined boundaries.

Now, the Colorado Legislature has two women members. They sat quietly in their seats and heard all the* discussion of the measures and scornful allusions to the dangerous immoral women. But when the Bill was finally called there was a stir at Mrs Representative Marshall’s desk, „ and in a voice quiet but so vibrant, with meaning that it caught the attention of the entire House, she said that the Bill was a good one, hut offered an amendment to the effect that the fallen me n of the city should be segregated in a like manner as the fallen women. The* breath-taking silence wnich fell in the room was broken by Mrs Representativc Riddle, who, catching the* Speaker’s eye, said the* only reason she did not second the amendment was that if earned into effect such a law would not leave men enough outside* the* segregation lines to carry on the* business of the city. Then calling for the question, she turned to the House, saying, significantly; ‘let him who is without sin among you cast the first vote in its favour.” But the* Billies Bill was dead. Men recognised the moral justice of Mrs Riddle’s point, and had no more to say about the contaminating influence* of a woman who had missed the step in the march of moralities. — “National Advocate.’’