Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-31
Mo,her,s RIahts 10 chIIdren.

'sThe Massachusetts, legislature has
passed a bill" says the Boston Herald,
''and received the approval OF the COVER
nor, which Is q step forward In the line OF
Justice and humanity, one which has been
advocated with much earnestness in. the
past By those who are commonly classed
as 'wOman's rights people but hereto
fore always without success This year
the goal OF long effort has been won. Z.
II gives the mothers a joint right with
Fathers in the care ana custody OF minor
children Heretofore mothers have had
no legal right at ail-fathers having the
Exclusive care, custody and control un-
der the law IN accordance with the prac-
tice IN times when women had no indie
pendent status OF rights. being simply
the dependents Of their husbands or OF
some male relative. Massachu-
isetts Is now the twelfth state in the
Union 20 concede this right Thirty-three
states yet cling 20 the former ideal Of the
family, as an institution In which the
husband and father is the sole head. so
far as the custody OF children is concern
ed That such power is often used arbi-
trarily. tyranically and oppressively there
can be no question"
The change OF the law in Massachusetts,
grew out OF a horrible occurrence, where
q hard working woman had supported
her i've little ones for years, while bru-
tai husband had been debauched by drink.
EnH kEUM NNG&G EuMQTen NUkEAnEE UN
most heroic self-sacrifce, while he lay
around q rum hole and made a beast OF
himself. Her extremity became so great.
and her poverty so severe, she consented
20 20 10 the aims house II her children
might 90 with her. When she found she
was tricked and her children were TO be
taken from her. she became violently In
sane and butchered all FIVE TO keep them
away from the beas tot father, who de-
1ermined TO make her and them still more
wretched. A prominent minister took
hold OF the case, obtained all the facts
concerning this poor mothers strfvings
10 bring up her children 70 clean lives, and
made such presentation Of that mother
helplessnesS under the law, which gave
the control and custody Of her children
into the hands OF beastly inebriate, that
the bill TO protect mothers became a law.
"A woman in Massachusetts can now claim
Joint custody OF her own children.
I never shall forget the heart-breaking
EOhs Of one OF the best women I have
ever known when she told me, years ago,
that her twelve-year-old son had been
taken from school and hired 10 a saloon
by his no-account father, over her pro-
tests, tears and prayers This occurred
here in Georgia, in a city I could name,
but viii not. That child Of tender years
was hired 10 pour out liquors and wash
fumblers and wait on the dram-drtnkers
generally, in an open saloon. and his no
account father did the deed. That moth
er went 10 the saloon and plead with
such power for her child that the saloonist
agreed 70 dismiss her boy. That father
aimed TO live on that child's earnings In
the dram shop. and Georgia law gave him
the power 70 do It, over the entreaties Of
the mother. who would have laid her own
faithful head in the grave 70 have kept
this child OF her love in paths OF peace
and uprightness.
The scamp Of a father should have been
farred and feathered and tied 10 nearest
lamp post for thisendeavor 10 debauch the
little boy. who was cursed with such an
unteeling parent. How any legislature
can hesitate for a single moment 10 give
the mother joint control OF her own child
cannot comprehend
The time is coming when public opinion
viii pass quick sentence on either parent
that cSrrupts OF degrades the offspring.
No license 10 marry should be issued to
q man Of dissolute or debauched charac-
ter Somebody should vouch for him and
security should be given before little hap
less children are spawned upon the world
10 be battered and banged about by I'M
worthy parents.
That poor Massachusetts, mother should
have been shielded from the brute that
made her home a place OF torment. There
should be some refuge provided for the
innocent and helpless under such condi-
tons.
The brute should have been sobered on
the rock pile, and kept sober until his
senses were recovered.
i pity such poor mothers from the bot
tom OF my heart, and these dear little
ones had terrific experience at the hands
Of both their parents II there is any
thing more deplorable than 10 die by vio-
lence at the hands Of a crazy mother II
would be 70 live under the control OF
bestiallzed father until OF age. Death
was In truth their friend.