nl_e17

Powell, "President's Opening Address," 1896
connection with their property interests. Not so with reference to their
persons. In four States, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina
and Alabama the Age of Consent is fixed at the shocking low age of
ten years. In four States, Kentucky, Virginia, Nevada and West
Virginia, the age is fixed at twelve years. In three States, New
Hampshire, Utah and Iowa, at thirteen years. In the State of Maryland,
in Maine, in Vermont, in Indiana, in North Dakota, in Georgia, in Illinois
and in California at fourteen years. In Nebraska and Texas the age
limit is fifteen years. In New Jersey, in Massachusetts, in Michigan,
Montana, South Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and the
District of Columbia the age is sixteen years. In Florida seventeen
years. In New York, Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado eighteen years.
In Delaware the original statute pertaining to the crime of rape is still
unrepealed fixing the age at seven years, but the last Legislature
passed an amended act which, practically, is designed to extend legal
protection in that State to young girls to the limit of eighteen years.
These so called Age of Consent statutes discriminate against girlhood
and in favor of immoral men. They are, for the most part, a disgrace to
the several States of this Union. Public attention has been directed
widely to the subject through the combined efforts of the American
Purity Alliance and other Purity and White Cross organizations, and
especially by the Women's Christian Temperance Unions, and the
movement has latterly been powerfully reinforced by the Arena
magazine, conducted by Mr. Flower[A], with the special aid in this
direction of Mrs. Helen H. Gardener. But it should be made much more
a matter of concern in those States wherein the age is still ten, twelve,
thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen years. The figures which I quote
are such as have been recently furnished me, officially, by the
Secretaries of State in the several States. They may not be, as in
some cases I have found they were not, strictly accurate, but for the
most part they undoubtedly represent the present actual condition of
the Age of Consent Laws of our country. It is a matter which women
and high-minded men everywhere should take to heart and do all
possible to secure a speedy reformation and amendment of these
laws.
Another object which this Congress it is hoped will do much to
promote is greatly needed rescue work among the victims of vice.
Rescue work for women, rescue work among fallen men as well as
fallen women. Some of the speakers who will address the Congress
during its sessions are experts in this sphere of service, from whose
experience it is hoped, shared here by others, a new impetus will be
given in this sphere of greatly needed Christian activity.
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