The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-12
RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN.
Mr.. Il. c. Days Paper Before the Local
Council.

There was an unusually large attendance
at the called meeting of the Local Council
of Women yesterday. the subject of Mar
ried Womens Rights attracting attention
After Mrs. Wulschner had called for an
expression as to the councils Endorsement
of the work oe the Commercial Clubs COM
mittee, relative to the education bills to be
introduced in the Legislature, Mr.. T. c.
Day gave a talk on the anticipated subject
The law for married women in this State
was made in the early part of the century
and it is still in its original form. In the
equal rights of women, with men, before
the law it has fallen to the lot of men to
make and execute the law The men have
had trouble with the women from the be-
ginning, not because they were not docie,
but the difficulty has been to find woman's
true relation and status. From time to time
she has developed some new power, neces-
stating a change. In all the laws made
for the government of women there have
been underlying ideas Mr.. Day cited the
Grecian woman, who was always the pro-
testas of her father, her brother, her hus-
band or some other man. She was supposed
not to have the power of self-command. In
Indiana no laws are needed for the I'M
married woman. The law as it stands is
that no married woman may enter into a
contract for suretyship or other bond, for
such is void; no married woman may make
a contract unless she can prove that II Is
for her sole use and benefit. Mr.. Day quot
ed several cases to show wherein mar
ried woman differs, under the law, from
man. She cannot borrow 500 on her own
property worth 5000 unless she proves that
she shall use it for herself alone. She can
not run an account at the grocery, asking
for credit for herself on her own properly,
unless she eats all she gets herself. NOT
can woman have commercial credit. ana
she is denied the redemption OF property d
right which is allowed a man.
MIR. Day made the subject perfectly clear
in his talk and at the conclusion the mem
bers were given the privilege or asking
questions. One asked how could woman
protect herself against a worthless nusDanu
The education of women in regard to the
matter is the safeguard. woman should
contract carefully and then stand by II
Mrs. Ella d. linn read resolution regard
ing the repeal of the present law, seco NJ
resolution was introduced by Mrs. Z. M.
Walker relative to the separation OF tne
Womans Prison and Reform School Ior
Girls Both were Endorsed by the couIlcn;4
Among the appointments to the commit
tees of the council were those OF Mrs. Far
rabee and Mrs. Wiley to the legislative
committee. The National Councll OF W9Iile af
will be held in Washington the week OF
Feb r. Mrs Wulschner, as president OF
the council, was given permission TO name
her proxy which she did by selecting Mrs.
Alice w Pierce; Mrs. j. Cumming Smith
was elected delegate, with the privilege OF
selecting her proxy and an alternate MIS-:
John w. Kern was named as a MEMBER OF
the national programme committee; anu
Mrs Ella D. linn as member OF the ma
tional resolutions committee.
Mrs John w. Kern read an interesting
and practical paper on City Parks ana
Gardens" The city has been hkened to
a great park, with its shaded streets, large
lawns. with fountains and flowers In such
profusion but there are many waste places
and congested habitations which breed mar
contents and criminals" she said. MIS-
Kern spoke of the influence Of parks near
such places where people of the neighbor,
hood might congregate, and she freely helo
up Military Park as a model OF It's klnu,
park which the neighborhood calls tine
Merritt playground Mrs Kern gave a de-
scription Of the park, where grass seed was
sown, crocus bulbs planted, the fountain
enlarged and water lilies put in. she spoke
of the games that were allowed ana pro-
Vided the care that had been given by the
police of the district and the influences tor
good which had been brought about by the
redemption of the park by Mr.. Merritt. me
speaker commended the work which mad
begun the present bark system, and lament
ed the fact that it had not been begun many
years ago. when land was not so hlgh IN
price as it is now. She also ADVOCATED
placing women on the park board. The pa
per was highly Complimented by the presl-
dent of the council.