Redlight Padlocking (SIGNED)
[San Francisco]: Published by the author, 1952. First Edition. Accompanied by two typed letters SIGNED by the author to C.M. Goethe (1875 – 1966), an American eugenicist, entrepreneur, land developer, philanthropist, conservationist, founder of the Eugenics Society of Northern California, and a native and lifelong resident of Sacramento, California. 8vo. 16 pp. Illustrations. Photo-illustrated wrappers in very good condition. In this pamphlet, Grant, as author of the Redlight Abatement Act, provides historical background, context and struggles with enforcement. The act primarily targeted the property owners, thus the act included this innovation..."Penalize the owner, Padlock for a year his property." An uncommon title on the early history of curtailing prostitution in America; no other copies located on the market and only 1 copy located in OCLC. Item #17442
Edwin E. Grant was a California State Senator, President of the California State Law Enforcement League and champion of the Red Light Abatement Law. This vice law, intended to curtail or eliminate prostitution, was passed by the California legislature in 1913, and became effective on 3 November 1914. As a result, prostitution moved to the streets, making the practice more dangerous. Grant’s sponsorship of the new law led to his recall from office. C.(harles) M.(atthias) Goethe, founder of the Eugenics Society of Northern California; founder of California State University, Sacramento; and honorary Vice-President of the California State Law Enforcement League under Grant; as such, he was sympathetic with Grant’s struggles with enacting the Red Light Abatement Law. In the letter dated April 19, 1924, Grant apprises Goethe on the League's progress on additional abatement acts based on the Red Light law, such as the liquor abatement features of the Volstead Act (National Prohibition Act). Goethe’s bank, the Capital National Bank of Sacramento, was the State Law Enforcement League’s principal financial backer. In the letter dated November 1, 1954, Grant writes of his continuing efforts to clean up San Francisco, and remembers Goethe for coming to his aid in 1914 when the San Francisco Underworld was after him…”menaced by gangs – fore-runners of Al Capone’s mob…because I had menaced their personal liberty.”.
Price: $450.00