Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02

Kentucky proposes TO reafim. Even our
great State Of Pennsylvania with all her
own heavy sins of legislation, can cry
shame against Kentucky.
Mrs. Blake, who has lately investigated
the subject, says that "only in three States
OF the Union-Kansas, Iowa and New Jer-
sey-to which Wyoming may now be added
has q mother any legal claim to her own
children. In all the other States" she
adds, the husband has the absolute right to
bind the children out, to give them away,
or by will appoint guardian for them after
his death; although the mother has risksd
death to give them life, she has no legal
right over them whatever
WOULD COMMIT MURDER FIRST.
Mrs. Sursshelm relates in her life, that
her husband would have taken her child
from her if he had dared, but that she would
have defended her rights to her baby to the
taking of life. Mrs. Blake further relates
that in no State or Territory in the Union
is wife entitled legally to dollar for her
services in the family. Her husband gives
her what he sees fit, and he is judge and
and laboring equally hard, side by side on q
farm, in store or shop, with care Of chill
dren and household work in addition for
the woman, the husband by law owns all
the money they both earn. This shows that
it would pay wife just as well to be lazy
and do nothing.
Where husband is kind, loving, liberal
and considerate these hardships of the law
have no pressure, but nevertheless legisla-
tion should be 80 equitable that it could not
be made the means of oppression by the
miserable towards who alone claim the ad-
vantages it gives them.
~ IS t.
England has made a long step in reform,
which, if they knew anything about it,
might perhaps be we'll for Kentuckians and
all men to consider. The law on this matter
now in England is that mother at the
death of her husband is legally her chill
dren's guardian. Her husband by will may
appoint another guardian, but he cannot cut
her out Moreover, if the husband be bad
man, she can, on her death, appoint a
guardian to act with him and take charge
of the interests of her children. The sig
nifcant clause of this new act is that the
courts shall consider the wishes of the
mother as we'll as the father.
SUFFRAGE FOR ENGLISH WOMEN.
This is not all that English women are
working for, but it is one of the advances
that has been made by persistent effort, and
that more will follow goes without saying.
In fact, Lord Salisbury, the present Prime
Minister, has announced that the extension
of Parliamentary suffrage to women should
become Government measure. For the
leader of the Conservative party to take up
such a radical proposition shows that the
Premier is long-headed and knows that such
act will strengthen his party and prolong
their political power.
Missionaries have gone to work in Ken
lucky Some of the women have been
aroused and are organizing a movement
against the new Constitution. Mrs. Henry
writes that while they "have the worst laws
in the Union, they have some splendid men
in the State, who are an easy prey to con-
version when the case is squarely presented.
The greatest fight will be made on the
property rights question" When it is re-
membered that that battle was fought and
won in Pennsylvania over 40 years ago, it
will be seen how far Kentucky is behind,
and what Southern chivalry" has amounted
to in all these years.
A Constitutional Convention is pending
in this State, to be voted upon in Novem-
Der. 1t is necessary, therefore, for the
women of Pennsylvania to see to it that
they receive representation at that conven-
tion if held, and to work for such amend
ments to the Constitution as will blot out
all the iniquitous laws against women.
which now deface the statute books, and
give to the stalwart and noble men of Penn
sylvania the fair fame they deserve
Women must move in this matter.
"Know ye not, who would be free, them
selAes must strike the blow?"
BESSIE BRAMBLE