This will not be an experiment. It has proven successful in other states. It will prove successful in California. It warrants the approval of a club which takes up problems that affect the welfare of the commonwealth, as this one does. It has received the approval and the commendation of the San Francisco Ad Club, the Downtown Association, the Home Industry League, the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco. They are standing with one square front for this institution, and we are going to put it through this Legislature. It is not going to lie dormant in committee. We have people up there lobbying-if you may call it that--for this bill, and it is going to go through. And we want the support of one more club that is, the Commonwealth Club. I can give statistics about similar institutions in other states in the Union, but you have not time for them. But I have statistics from eight institutions in this country to show that it is possible to reclaim these women. You reclaim land from floods, as reported by the chairman of your Committee on Irrigation; you spend money on reclamation of lands. Why not on human beings? How much do you spend to build up your livestock? Are not human beings worthy of some consideration? You pay to feed animals. Have these women not a right to the right kind of life? I want you to remember this: It is not a long-haired movement. I am a regular fellow, just like the rest of you. But I can see the scientific part of this, and it is based on a pure efficiency and business standpoint. It is based on the Federal Government's experience. The Federal Government has a department of training camp activities, known as the law enforcement division, who have done nothing else but tour this country for this Government to see what kind of institutions pay, and this is their answer. This is the kind of institution you want. In the Slaton farm they have their own self-government, just the same as in Wellesley and Vassar colleges. The girls run themselves, and it is considered a disgrace to break any of their self-made rules. They have had one attempt to escape at the Slaton farm, made up principally of prostitutes. Do not tell me it is impossible to reclaim them. Do not worry. We can produce the goods if you give us the goods to work on. And this is what we want-this farm on state land-and I hope this Club will endorse the project. I am only sorry I have not time to give you the facts that will bring the necessity of this right home to you. (Applause.) Action by Club Meeting THE PRESIDENT: feel sure the Major has us convinced. favor of endorsing this movement will say aye. Contrary no. ried unanimously. We will see that these endorsements reach the Legislature. All in Car CONTENTS Statement for Section on International Relations, E. E. Robinson.. PAGE The work of the Club's Section on International Relations (See Progress Report for 1918, page 444) was changed by the meeting of the Peace Conference and especially by the publication on February 14, 1919, of the preliminary draft of the constitution of the League of Nations. The Section, following this publication, took up the task of comparing the constitution with the declared peace aims of the United States, and that of considering its effect on the traditional policies of the United States. The Section engaged in this work was constituted as follows: Prof. E. E. Robinson, Chairman; Richard Altschul, Albert E. Boynton, George E. Crothers, F. H. Dam, W. E. Dassonville, R. S. Gray, C. E. Grunsky, F. E. Hinckley, David Starr Jordan, Augustin C. Keane, F. W. Milverton, P. T. Morgan, W. H. Pillsbury, Walter Stalder, Frederick Whitton, E. W. Wilson, J. J. Webb. After meeting at frequent intervals during February and March the Section was called upon for report at the Club Meeting of April 17th. The programme was arranged as follows: Statement on behalf of the Section, by Chairman Robinson. The subject was then thrown open to debate under the five-minute rule and the following members spoke: R. S. Gray, F. H. Dam, Edward Berwick, George L. Dillman, J. J. Webb, Ernest J. Torregano, Gustav Brenner, C. C. Boynton, C. M. Belshaw, Isidor Jacobs, Harris Weinstock, A. G. McFarland, Willard W. Beatty, W. V. Stafford, the discussion being closed by Dr. Jordan and Mr. Shortridge. |