Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-30
GERMAN WoMEN'S UNHAPPY LOT
Strict Laws Hedge Them In on Every
Side.

The Empress of Germany takes no
apparent interest III the movement
for the advancement of women. She
leaves that for her mothor-in-law. the
eNEmpress Frederick, probably be-
cause her imperial husband Is so post
tive In his views upon such questions,
The emperor adheres to the Japanese
notion that women should obey their
fathers, husbands and sons In all
things, and contlne themselves to do
nestle affairs. Only few months
ago the leaders OF the branch OF the
wuman's suffrage movement In Ber.
lin were arrested tried before
magistrate and punished with heavy
fines for maintaining an unlawful as.
ISOLATION and holding political meet
ings without the permission of the
police There Is n law prohibiting
women and minors from belonging to
pc litical associations, which places the
in Germany upon an equality with
children.
Germany Is the only country In the
world which Is taking backward steps
in regard to the rights and privileges
OF women. The old law, which made
the wife the scrf OF the husband and
ohliterated her individuality In MI
legal matters, has not only been re-
Gently reafiirmed, but her rights,
privileges and immuntes have been
squeezed into an even smaller com.
pass than before. For several years
commission, composed OF the ablest jur-
lists In Germany-members Of the ju-
dietary, the faculties OF the UNIVERSE
ties and prominent lights at the bar
has been engaged in the uniflcation
and codification OF the laws of the
thirty-one Kingdoms, duches and
principalities that make up the Ger
man empire, to secure uniformity and
common code OF practice everywhere
throughout the empire. The new
code Is completed and goes into effect
two years hence.
When the action OF the commission
regarding the laws that concern WON
en- was made known a petition signed
by 1000 others and wives OF the
best citizens OF Germany was present
ed to the reichstag protesting against
the discrimination against them, and
demanding the same rights, privileges
and liberties and the same justice
that Is accorded TO the women Of
England and France They asserted
that II was an insult to the German
race for the government to assume
that It's women were inferior To those
Of other nations, and compared the
rev laws OF Germany with other civil
Ted countries To show the extent OF
the injustice imposed upon them
No attention was paid to the petition,
except indirect condemnation. 80 a
congress was composed Of hundreds
OF the best women Of the empire, who
made a second appeal for greater
consideration In property rights and
privileges, protection in labor and en-.
enlargement In science, literature,
and the arts. This was very offensive
TO the emperor. He was particularly
ar"ry al the comparison made between
the women Of Germany and France,
and said many savage things concern.
ing those who were engaged In the
movement.
In Germany today no woman can
control property; she cannot even
control her own actions: whatever OF
value she has acquired In any way be-
longs To her father. her husband, or
her son. and the law requires her to
obey their orders. Japan Ii the only
country on earth that pretends to be
civilized where the rights OF women
are 20 restricted. When woman