Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

who is eowardly enough to beat his wife
deserves "a horsewhipping. No one but a
coward would be guilty of such an act"
Sn,acks of Slavery Days.
Charles Charles. president of the Ma
tional Protective Labor Association, says:
Il regret to learn that our President,
whom we indorsed and supported during
the last national contest. has recommended
the establishment of the whipping post for
the punishment of wife heaters. Such a
thought for the creation of law, can only
find an origin in the dark ages of slavery,
that most gigantic institution of criminality
that ever existed in ancient or modern
times. The beneficiares of this law would
be those who desired to get rid of objec
tionable husbands. What man and woman
would desire to continue their marriage re-
iation after such an ordeal? They would
find it impossible for life ever to run
smoothly again, finally creating a condi-
ton beyond endurance.
This stigma borne by man in the face
of Il criticiZing community, in the midst OF
his beloved children, would all tend to make
a happy union utterly impossible Having
thus thrashcd him ito such a state he
would reason as never before. ultimately,
perhaps committing murder. To enforce
law of this kind at the nations capital
would be an encouragement for the con-
tinuation of lynching and burning criminals
at the stake.
How about the other side? What is to
be done when the poor man receives beat
ing? This is two-handed game, and while
cowardiy men playing at one end a
considerable number of women are raising
old Ned at the other.
You cannot eradicate water with water,
quench fire with fire, nor subdue anger with
anger Neither can you reform brute by
becoming Il brute. If those who advocate
the lash cannot do any better than this
they should step aside. O. all methods pro-
noSad no of e evil | iD6DrSe the
one advocated by I he E ming Star
Another Side of the Question.
Zed II. Copp the probation officer. who,
because of the nature of his work, can
speak with authority makes the following
statement about the whipping-po PROPOSE
ton which discloses new view of the
problem:
Much has been said" he says, "about the
whipping post, both as remedial punishment
for wife beaterS and as a brutallzng
agency shaming modern punitive methods
In all the arguments pro and con so lar L
have failed to see the other side of the post
presented to view. This will neceSSltate
showing in a measure what Is behind and in
the shadow of the post, and largely conStl-
tuteS it's groundwork. 1t is summed up IN
the one terrible word-infdeity. Police rec
ords will bear out this statement. and show
that wife beating in the majority of cases
is really the result of a conJugal court pro-
cedure in which the offended husband sits
as Judge. passes sentence and then proceeds
to execute it himself. The wife is defend
ant, verbal and physical
whoever has followed the course of these
cases from their source-infldelity-to their
mouth-separation-is aware of the strata
of the social world involved. From the very
nature of such action on the part OF both
the one beating and the other haling into
court-it can be readily understood just
what class is most concerned in the contro-
HIa act nf he
often the brutal instincts in both husband
and wife predOminate. The wife, jealous OIL
her husband with good cause, counters Win
actions calculated to rouse him to Jealousy
for her In a majority of cases, however, no
such stimulation is reSorted to or need1ul on
the part of the wife, because she already
clandestinely practices what her huspanu
has made little or no effort to conceal.
Sooner or later comes the announcement.
Then an insanely Infatuated husband, claim
ing to be the injured party, proceeds TO
round chastity into his erring wife. Then
the policeman appears and the case aug
ments the already long list OF Wife beaters
in court.
Gases are on record where wives have
sent their husbands to jail for beating them,
and in less than thirty days after they ana
their paramourS were convicted in the same
court on the charge of adultery.
THE remedial agency for wife beating
is not the whipping post. Wife peatlng Is
but one of the glaring symptoms 81 the
disease. Such legislation should be enacted
and executed as will protect the rights of
both husband and wife in making home HE
pure and sacred. Public sentiment must
abolish the double standard of moral pur-
ity, and see to it that the same purity of
life is required of the man as is expected
from the woman.
Bloody blows upon the quivering back
will no more drive jealousy from the mind
or plant moral purity in the heart than will
curses blows and bruises upon the body
of the wife.
1.-The establishment of such an instrument
of punishment in this city would cause an
abnormal condition in crimes. resulting in
the destruction of the family. Murder,
suicide and desertion would afarmingly in
crease"