The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-22
Chicago Is Deeply Stirred Over a
Ruling by the Minnesota
Supreme Court.
Representative Women Are Inter-
viewed by a Chicago Paper
and Talk Freely.
Mrs. Percy Widdrington of England
Is Surprised--Views of
Miss Adams.
New York Sun Special Service.

Chicago, Dec. 22.-Representative wom-
en- Of Chicago. whose Indignation has been
aroused by the action of the Minnesota
supreme court in ruling that wife beating
is legal assert in a local paper that such
alleged justice belongs to the middle ages.
Furthermore. they say that there never
has been and never will be any good and
sufficient reason why a member Of their
sex should suffer the indignities of a whip
ping from her spouse.
Mrs. Percy Widdrington Of England.
recently told Chicago shoppers what
she thought of bargain counter PUSHES at
Huh House. when opinions were being
asked concerning the Minnesota ruling.
The English woman shrugged her Shout
ders and then empha sized her feelings by
another shrug.
II must say that l am surprised re-
marked Mrs. Widdrington, and her sur
prise was Enthusiastically real Really,
such an action is extraordinary In Eng
land wife beating is not permitted at all.
and | am heartily glad that it Is not. |
rejoice that Minnesota alone gives hus-
bands legal permission to whip their
wives | would not want to see such a
state Of affairs in my country. 1t is not
my mission here to find fault with the
laws of any state, but it seems to me that
this is the stage of barbarisn. 1t Is to
be placed in the same class with lynch
ing"
under any circumstances said Miss Jane
Adams. IF husband has any griev-
ance there Is other recourse under the
law. In fact, ! doubt very much II the
laws Of Minnesota actually permit wife
beating. Probably it is just the decision
of some judge who was influenced by
some personal feeling in the matter
Miss Julia Iathrop says that II the ST.
preme courts in the country were to le-
galize the whipping Of wives by their hus-
bands. no sensible women could ever be
brought to believe that there was any
righteousness in it.
Il can scarcely believe that the su-
preme court of Minnesota placed itself
on record In such a way. There must
be some mistake and I would want tc
read the decision or hear 1t read by some
lawyer before l could believe 1T. If the
report Is true. then the conditions are
worse In Minnesota than those related In
the Gorky tales, where the Russian peas
ant whipped his wife through the streets
of the village lashed to the tail of a cart
TT is absurd and ridiculous, said Judge
Tuthill. L have no patience with a. Judge
who will make such a ruling. 1t seems
probable that the real meaning Of the
court In this case has been misnterpreted
but IL the judge actually meant to legal
lie wife beating, he belongs to the middle
ages. Divorces are too easily obtained
In this country to give man the law
full privilege to whip his wife, no nattel
what the circumstances or proVocatlor
might be. II wife beating is made lawful
then you could go further and say tina
in the extreme case man might Kill III:
wife. 1t Is only question of degree.
The language of the Minnesota supreme cour
did egalize wife beating. 1t was used il
connection with divorce case in which thu
wife alleged cruelty. The husband replied tina
he had struck her only once. and that when con
viuced that she had been unfaithful to him
1oe court held ld,o that ths was circumstance