The Press., 1895-07-04
W. C T. U. DEPARTMENT.
Woman Suffrage CateChism.
BY LUCY STONE.

g illustrate some phases of the movement for the equal legal and political rights of women that are not as visible now as they will be hereafter:
 Gentlemen of the Committeee We have come up to this room for many years, vainly asking for equal rights with your selves. We have quoted the great prin- eiples on which our government is based: the declaration of independence and the bill of rights. We have found that those principles are not respected in their ap- p1ication to women. We have answered over and over all objections that have ever been offered against the ballot for women. We have quoted the successful working of woman suffrage wherever it has been tried, in England, Scotland, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and in our own western territories, without avail. I propose now to show the historic record the Massachusetts legisla- I7lature has made for itself, on this ques- ton, by the following questions and an- swers:
 Shall the men and women who are to obey the laws have right to make them
 No. Only the men shall have that right.
 But there must be laws that especially concern women. Who shall make those laws
 Only men shall make them.
 May not mothers help make the laws that settle their legal relation to their children
 They shall not. The men shall have the sole right to make such laws.
 May not married women help make the laws that decide what share of the prop erty acquired by a husband and wife dur ing marriage shall belong to the wife
 They shall not.
 May not a married woman help make inc laws that decide how much of her property acquired before her marriage shall belong to her husband after her death?
 No. The men shall decide it.
 Who shall make the laws that decide how much of the property of the husband shall go to the wife? The men shall make them. s Who shall make the laws that decide how, and how much, 8 wife may will oi her own property? The men.
 Who shall make the laws that decide the rights of married partners in case o1 marriage and divorce and alimony?
 T he men.
 By the laws the men have made, do the her and mother have an equal legal Iight to their children? :.
 No. The right of the father is supreme 4 sflong as he lives with his wife. I What share shall husband have in the l rls estate of his wife? have the use of the whole of il - a6lIl, e hg hves, If hiss-uiie has evel l had living child. l W hat is his right to that property cal
 The estate by the courtesy"
 What share shall wife haveein the req 4 estate of her husband?
 She shall have the use of one-third af ter her husbands death. I What is the right to that property call ed9 5 It is commonly called "the widows Iincumbrance," 'tdower," oI "widows thirds.a' If the wife die before her husband, what share of the property owned by herself and by her husband jointly during theil marriage may she have to will to her chil dren, or to anybody? I Not q cents worth.
 Who made the law? | The men.
 Do married women now own their owr clothes?
 They do.
 How long did it take to secure tha right?
 Three years.
 May widow now be buried in the fam fly lot? Il She may.
 How long did it take to secure tha right? Ten years.
 Shall the men and women who pay tax es have right to say how much they shall pay, who shall spend the money, anC how it shall be spent?
 No. Only the men shall have that right
 Shall all soldiers and sailors honorably discharged from service have right tC vote, whether they are paupers or not, Ol whether they have paid poll-tax or not l They shall.
 Shall male Indians, and people of colol called Indians, have right to vote for al officers of town, county, state and nation
 They shall.
 Shall female citizens have right tC vote as freely as the male Indians do ant , on the same questions?