The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-14
RIGHTS OF WOMEN.
An Indignant Correspondent of u House
hold journal Thinks They Haven't Many.

hold journal Thinks They Haven't Many.
Oh, for the eloquence of Patrick Henry
or Wendell Phillips! If 1 coNld ''buy,
beg, borrow or eteal'' sufficient sup
ply, would devote the rest of my life
to trying to open women's eyes to the
wrong all about them, to the sins
against countless unborn children by the
treatment the mothers receive.
1t aroused my indignation when I
learned that in the state of New York
the law was such a father had the right
to will away an unborn child, and the
mother must submit. When it was de-
cided in Rhode Island that in case the
parents could not agree as to the name
of their child the father had the right
to select the name, a feeling of contempt.
mingled with amusement, arose that
our wise lawmakers should devote hours
perhaps to making such law. Perhaps
there was feeling of ''You beat them
this time, didn't you?" when l read of
the man in Alabama arrested for steal
ing female wearing apparel and could
not be convicted, although it was proved
he had taken the clothes, because it was
Mrs. S. who lost them and the thief
should have been arrested for stealing
Mr.. S. s clothes. The women Of Kansas
sent words of sympathy and coincidence
to the women OF Kentucky when they
learned that by law they did not own
the clothes on their backs, but all this
seemed afar off and strange, and the
feeling of Indignation was nothing COM
pared to that upon hearing that the SUI
preme court of Iowa, that grand state,
had reversed a decision of the lower
court granting Mrs. Hall of M. dam
ages for injuries received by falling in
a water main carelessly left unguarded.
They decided she was ''mere house
wife, that her husband was the one
who sustained injury by having his
time lost. Her claim was not valid, as
she could lose no time 1t was all her
husbands
Ye godsI Not only is another Daniel
come to Judgment, but several, though
it is cover the left shoulder. - Women
will rave when they are told men con-
slider them property, SO will some men,
too, but if such decisions do not prove
it know not what does. Are we to be
forever satisfied to be mere annex to
man, his equal, pet or slave, as the in
dividual man may decide? And must
G0OS0 WHO D0lOuS W lu6 uISt bWO O4dSoCo
rest content because their lot is easy,
close their eyes to the fact that their
sisters not so fortunate are in torment,
and that the law, this human imperfec-
ton, looks upon all as in one class?
Let us look into this question and not
rest content as long as lone of the least
of these needs assistance. Let us not
shield ourselves behind the cowardly
screen, 81 do not believe in woman s
rights; clever woman will get all the
rights she wants, . even if talented
woman does make such remarks. 1t is
not the mother nature that speaks
there. The true mother lets her clever
children look out for themselves, if
necessary, while she gives her care and
attention to the crippled or helpless
LAS ye have done it unto the least of
these, said the Master, not as ye do
to the clever. What though we care lit
tie for politics, wish no offices and all
that, still there may be duty for us
to do. The women of Kansas are perhaps
more than usually interested this year.
We are proud of the women who are
taking the front rank for the advance
ment OF the race, for mothers cannot
progress without its effect being seen
upon the race. May truth and right
| prevaiL-E. B. G. in Minneapolis
! Housekeeper.