Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
ID DRESS OF EDWARD ROSE
WATER IN THE DEBATE /,
WITH MISS SUSAN B. AN
L IONY.


colonies being taxed were denied repre-
sentation in government and therefore the
fundamental principle OF British rule was
violated Is that the rule OF our govern
ment? Docs taxation and representation
really underle the foundation of this re-
public? ! deny that. | claim right here
that taxation has nothing whatever to do
with the system Of government under which
we live My friend has amply illustrated
this fact by the donkey story. II donkeys,
for instance, had votes, men might as well
stay at home. G.aughter) As a matter OF
fact it is manhood suffrage that governs.
It is the rule of those who are able to sus-
tain and maintain the government and to
enforce the laws made under II. What do
we mean by the word enforce? II means to
compel those who resist the laws 20 obey.
We are told by the gentle sex that in this
nineteenth century force is no longer neces-
aary for government that when women vote
all wars will cease and all force in gov
ernment will become unnecessary. And
yet my friend, Miss Anthony tells us that
the police of New York were required in
the great strike in New York to prevent
men from committing violence and blood
shed. Will woman suffrage stop riot? VIII
women ever stop Quarreling among them
selves? CLaughterD Go to the police court
of Omaha and you will find a majority of
complaints made by women against women
for slander and for doing all sorts of i'm
by laws.
And now let me define taxation. Taxes
are levied upon property, not upon men.
Property is capital and capital is simply
the product of labor. Capital or property
is taxed to pay for the cost of protecting
men and women in the exercise Of their
patcrnal rights to life, liberty and in
pursuit of happiness. According to the
United States supreme court the pursuit
of happiness is the right of every person
to become the owner of property. In other
words, the inalienable right which men
and women have alike to the pursuit of
happiness is their right to enjoy the fruits
Of their labor. Taxation, therefore is simply
the premium paid by the owners of property
for the protection of their persons in it's
use. This premium, or tax, is paid by
corporations and aliens as well as by in
dividuals, but nobody contends that cor
poration and aliens because they are taxed,
should have the right to vote. The man
or woman who pays premium to insure
his house or personal property against
fire is by no means entitled to take part
in the management of the insurance com
pany. CApplause)
The doctrine l lay down here is that If
taxation means consent, corporations and
aliens are taxed without their consent What
part have they in the government? AS my
friend, Miss Anthony, remarked, the poorest
man living In a hOvel or hut is the equal
in our republic of the man whose income Is
a million month. The woman at the wash
tub is in every respect eqhal. as far as in-
alienahle rights are concerned. to the lady
in the palace. rocking in the gilded rocking
chair (Applause) Now we come to another
question, that is
WOMEN UNDER THE LAW.
These ladies have all come to urge upon
you the necessity Of an amendment to the
constitution of Nebraska of eliminating the
word male" from ourlaws. They come here
to say it Is your interest and the interest of
both men and women that this change should
bo made, and they assert that because they
have no voice in our government they are
degraded. But the laws of this state dis
prove that they could enjoy more advantage
II they were voters. | don't know what the
degradation of women is in the state of New
York, and don't care. If these ladies de-
sire the nnelioration of the condition of
women in New York, they must go to New
York to do it, speak for Nebraska No state
mas been more generous and liberal: no state
in this union has given such privileges and
immunities as the state of Nebraska Eleven
years ago, when l was a member of the
legislature, we passed a bill to confer rights
IN married women and that bill still re,
mains on the statute book. | will read it
o you, because many of you do not know
What protection the laws of Nebraska do give
to women. | myself had forgotten until re-
Gently | examined the record to confirm
my impression that had voted for 1t.
AN ACT
Respecting the Rights of Married Women.
lie II enacted by the legislature of the
state of Nebraska. Section l. That the
property, real and personal, which any
woman in this state may own at the time
OF her marriage and the rents issues
%prolts % or proceeds thereof, and any real.
came to her by descent, device or beuuest
or the gift of any person, except her hus-
Dand, shall remain her sole and separate
property, Notwithstanding her marriage,
and not to be subject to the disposal of
her husband. or liable for his debts.
NOW what does this grant so far as mar
rleu women are concerned? All property.
personal and real, belonging to her before
marriage can be retained by her and can be
wllled away If she sees fit. How is II with
mem When man marries the momen,
thc marriage Is sOlemniZed the woman he
comes the absolute owner of one-third of
ms real property. He cannot dspcso of n
loot OF real estate without her consent. and
cannot mortgage 1t without her consent No
one VIII assert that there is anything nm
Just IN this law. 1t is the simple recognition
by man of woman's dependenre and no,,s
desire to protect her
Section .. a married woman r,buo a.,
marriage relation subsists may bargain
sell ana convey her real and personal 1rn,, r,l''
erono ",u ti,ter INTO any contract with ref
sLchce 10 thc same in tho same manner to
Ihe same extent and with like effect ms n
HlaIrleu man may in relation to his reoi
ana personal property. "
''', "oihal may deed away her pron-
erty; she may dispose OF it at pleasure.
she may II she desires. go into business:
she Is at liberty to do anything she sees m
win her money or property and no man
can interfere with her without violating
the law ''0'"''ns
section B. a woman may. while mnrried
sue ana De sued in the same manner as AZ
she were unmarried ~ "
There have been three decisions in our
supreme court covering this section.
woman may sue her own husband He deeds
her ms property and then she NAV turn
around, BUY up his notes sue him and re-
cover against him. We know women in
rms CITY who own property but when their
husbands Incur debts even for their main
tehahoe !ou cannoI collect from them but
when woman incurs debt for ANYTHING
classed as necessary the husband has to
pay it, Further than that II married
woman signs promissory note unless il
Is secured by real or personal property,
you cannot collect dollar. / know an
instance here where a woman who owns
property endorsed u note with her husband
to secure money expended for her. She
refused payment and the creditor cannot
collect from her
Section T. Any married woman may carry
on trade or business and perform any labor
or services on her sole ana separate ac-
count, and the earnings OF any married
services shall be her sole and separate prsp-
erty. ana may he used and invested by her
in her own name.
We have heard from this stage the most
heart-renatng stories. aud oceans of tears
hayQ been shed I'm tbia ho,,ea mo, ~,