The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-02-18
Random ThOughts---NO. I.


Edward D. Mansfield Is writer Of much abll-
ity but he often shows in his writings that he is
behind the times, or In other words, that he is
an old Eogy On two occasions recently, he
has, In articles in the Cincinnati Gazette, opposed
woman suffrage. His articles are very weak
If had room, l would publish them In full, and
their fallaey would be apparent. He refers to
taking an active part in polltica as ''dashing
into the mire, and dirt, and whirlpool Of public
politics If dashlng into public politics Is
miry, dirty business, why does Mr.. Mansfield
dash in so extensively? thinking in politics is
miry, dirty business, pray Mr.. Mansfield who
has made 1t such7 Men, or women, ch9 II
able men, like yourself, who have spent long
life in public politics, have only made 1t q whir-
pool Of mire and dirt, had you not best have the
modesty to stand back, and let the women try
their hand, and see If they cannot raise the gov
ernmSnt of our country out Of the filth, mirs
ana dirt into which you admit that you public
politicians hare plunged itl
Mr.. Mansfield refers to several Statutes Of
Ohio, to prove that women have ample rights in
this State, and should desire nothing further.
admit that much progress has been made in
our State during the past few years. But let us
SEQ If all is as lovely as Mr.. Mansfield would havO
US believe. He Gays that a woman arrives at
majority at eighteen, while man must wait un-
til he is twenty one, But pray, what good re-
suits to the woman when she does arrive at this
nominal maiority2 Can she vote, or hold Office,
or sit upon jury3 Has she any voice in max
ing the laws which tax her property the lAtnS
a. the property Of men7 II she violates the
laws of the land, which she has no voice y
making, is she tried by jury Of her peers or Is
she not tried by jury of men--thess same men
who have made, according TO your own admis-
sion, the government and administration OF the
laws, miry, dirty whlrlpoo1 So much for
woman arriving at her majority three years
sooner than man.
Now let me call Mr. Mansfelds attention to
only one, among a score of unjust lawS, making
determination almost rulnous against woman.
This law comes under the notice Of every prac
tcing attorney, / may say almost daily. will
suppose that young man and young woman
| iONC CHSh ObhSis AhSy heNN Nv RASPSAy
good health, strong arms and resolution to fight
the battle of life together. They marry. After
a while they have children. By their joint In
dustry and economy they purchase homestead
Of eighty acres of land, worth $420. The wife
contributes just as much, by her industry, good
management and economy, to the purchase of
this land, as the husband The wife dies, leav-
ing the bereaved husband with, say, three small
children. He feels double duty resting upon
him to bring them up properly, more especially
for the sake of their dead mother. He soon
nads that to educate them properly, he muSt
sell his little farm. He has the full power to do
90, and at once sells It for S42O in cash, and gets
the money, and only has to pay out two or three
dollars, for o deed and stamp and uses the mon
ey for the best interests Of his children, without
asking permission of any one. He feels that he
has done his duty. and that II the spirit of that
dead mother is permitted to look down upon his
acts, it is with approval. Very well. This Is
as 1t should bel
Now let me look at the other side Of the case,
and will here refer to an actual occurrence.
All !haS taken place the same as the case sup
posed only it is the husband and father who
dies and not the wife and mother. Mr.. Mans
field will say, let the widow, under our equal
laws, sell The land, and do jdst as the husband
would have done. Not so fast my venerable
friend. She cannot begin to do this. The own
er of one of the furnaces in this county offers
her the 1920 for the land, at private sale, and
wrote to me that II l could get him good title,
for that sum, at private sale, he would pay me
eco 90 for my services OF course this could
not BIZ done The widow s attorneys In Gin
cnnat wrete to me that If could get the fur
naceman tol agree to bid e42O on the land, l
might have the land brought to sale in proceed
inss In partition. But he would not bind himself
to do this as he might get 1t for two thirds Of
that sum, If offered o. public sale, SO she and
her children must suffer and wait. But suppose
she goes on to have the land sold, under our
equal laws. First, guardian must be appoint
I'd. This, including attorneys fees, will take
out of the little property, at least e10 90
Expenses Of sale, including Atty. fee, SC 90
60 90
Land appraised at s42O. Sells for two thirds
of appralsement, or s2sO. Take out the SEQ 90
costs Of sale. and the guardian gets s22O 90. On
this the law allows h i'm six per cent or $I3 20.
But this will not begin to pay him for bis trou-
BILE, aud the Probate Court allows him, say
go 90 for his extra trouble. This makes $sS 30
more to be taken from the S22O 90, leaving
s196 so. Then the guardian must make his set
tlement with the Probate Court, This costs
$40 90 more, leaving s1s6 80. If the widow
makes out and presents her account for actual
expenses, In providing for her own children, the
guardian may pay her portion Of this little bal
ance. But as he must make q settlement with
the Court every two years, he must be careful TO
keep enough in his hands to pay all expenses Of
these settlements.
Let me recapltulats. The man sells the
land for S42O 90, and the deed costs him % 90,
leaving ,. S417 90
Widow gets, through guardian, 1876 so
In favor of the man, $3.50 20
And these are equal laws, are they Mr. Mans
field ? Why not let the woman sell the land pre-
.clsely as the man dld7 Can you tell me why,
hr. Mansfield d. NJ
Needs n Detective.
Complaints reach us from Symmes