The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-05

~ movement" In the national cap
ital- It's hattie cry - sounded
in Judge Coxs coditicat ton OF law for the
District OF Columbia which has been much
discussed. and finally incorporated IN a
bill 10 establish the code, which will be
considered by the coming congress.
Judge Cox. says Alice Stone blackwell
In the New York San. holds ultra-conser-
vative views on the woman question and
Is DESTROYS 20 deprive married women OK
most az the rights they now possess in re-
gard 10 their property, persons and chill
dren. A. present the laws OF the District
OF Columbia are more equitable 10 women
than those OF most OF the states. How hey
came 70 be so is explained by an anony-
nous champion OF the mans rights move
Tuent." in exultant article boasting over
Judge Coxs effort 10 remand women to
their former medieval position. He says:
The legal status Of women in the Gts-
trict is almost entirely defined by wha; is
known as the Mussey act, law resulting
from bill framed and pushed through con-
gress by Mrs. Mussey in 1886. on the wave
OF emotion which followed the Slack case.
This. II Will be remembered. was case
made possible under the old law watch
gave a man the right 10 will away his
children. with absolute disregard az the
mother. All the circumstances Of this par
ucular case tended to create a feeling OF
general and intense Indignation. aud on the
tide OF this sentiment Mrs. Mussey car
red through congress a bill which not only
amended the iaw the point involved n
the Slack case. but was an omnibus bill
for women. This bin provided for equal
rights % mother and father in the guar
dianship OF minor children, and also for
equal rights OF husband and wife la the
matter Of property. In his new
code Judge Cox has Sought 10 establish
equal rights, not FOR women, but for men,.
1t is not easy to see how equal rights
can be given 10 men without being given
also 10 women. since things equal 10 the
same thing are equal 10 each other, but
the uItra-conservatives have never let
themselves be influenced by such a trfis
logic. Judge Cox's champion proceeds
10 explain, as follows:
In every instance where husband and
wife are involved, Judge Cox's code makes
n stand for equal rights TO men: this. too
based on the assumption tina; head is
indispensable 10 perfect organization. and
that IN the organization Of the family the
man Is the head
In other words. he bases his claim for
equal rights TO men on the assumption
that equal rights between husband and
wife are impossible. and tina: the rights
OF the husband must be superior
For the equal right to be the natural
guardian Of the child a; present existing
under the Mussey act Judge Cox's law sub
stituted that every father may. by his last
viii and testament. appoint a guardian Of
the person to have the care, custody and
tuition Of his infant child. But he does .
not give the mother any corresponding
right 10 will the infant away from the 7
father. II she happen 10 die before him
This is Judge Cox's idea OF equal rights
for men
Secondly. Judge Cox provided that i'm /
moral conduct OF the wife before marriage. /
unknown to the husband and subsequently, |
discovered by him. should eutitle him 10 |
divorce: but immortality Of the husband !
before marriage. unknown 10 the wife and |
subsequently discovered by her. was not |
TO entitle her to a divorce.
Third, and most remarkable OF all, Judge |
Cox's code prohibits any married WON n i
from engaging in business without her hus-
bands consent II he is able and willing 10 |
support her and the children. But Il does |
not forbid the husband OF a rich wife 10 |
engage In business without her cor sent, |
even II she is able ana willing to support |
him and the family
Judge CoX's anonymous eulogist is espe-
Ciaiiy pleased with this proposed restric-
ton upon wives. lie draws a lurid pic
ture of the state TO which the work Of
married women has brought the labor
market. 'on the warrant of Indulgence
accorded 10 their gentle. guilefu sex,
women are In a fair way 10 introduce IN
TO society and the business world all the |
disorders Of Il spoiled darling The wife |
being secured support from her husband.
when she engages in business she be- |
comes an Industrial factor "a depraved In
effect upon the conditions OF mems labor
as Chinese or convict labor, and this for |
precisely the same reason. The Chinese
live on rice-next 10 nothing; the convict |
lives on the government: the wife lives !
on her husband She can therefore ar |
cept less wages than u man and still |
make money" He quotes ex-senator I.v-
man. Of Kansas. as saying. In lS.ls there |
were almost 10000 women engaged In