The Washington herald., 1907-01-09
MISS COUZINS Is SAD
Declares Woman Suffrage Is
Not a Success.
HER ARDOR GREATLY COOLED
DenOunees Prohibition Campaign of
w. c. 4. L. Against Army Canteen.
pounded by Chicago Women Law
yers-InsistsFauIt Lies with Women.

/ Woman suffrage, in the opinion of
Miss Phoebe Couzins. the noted woman
lawyer and womans rights advocate, is
not by any means a success.
In a statement given out yesterday,
Miss Couzins said that her ardor in the
question Of womans rights has greatly
cooled not, she explained, because of
the system, but because Of the women.
She also denounced the present prohi-
oition campaign Of the W. c. T. L. and
abolition Of the army canteen as not
only failing to do good, but often
leading to positive harm. To use her
own expression, "men have drank from
time immemorial. and they, will drink
until Gabriel blows his horn"
These statements were prompted by
a series of questions, propounded by
women lawyers Of Chicago, concerning
the rights Of women. The questions and
answers which she gave to them are as
follows:
Q. Has a married woman a right to
her own property?
A. Under the English common law
she had no right. and this still holds
unless changed by statute. As a ques-
ton Of right and wrong. I would say
that she had the absolute right 10 the
property belonging to her.
.. Can she make contracts and enter
into partnerships without the consent
Of her husband2
A Under the old Germanic laws. a
woman had equal rights with her hus-
band, and could do anything In law
that he could do. At present, I would
say that she could not enter into part
nerships without the consent Of her
husband, as the law now makes it
necessary for her to have his signature.
She Has Not Equal Rights.
Q. Are her rights in his real estate
equal to his rights in her real estate?
A No. BY the laws Of England. gen
orally adopted in this country. he had a
right to one-haIf Of her property and
/ she had right to only one-third Of his.
Again. as "a matter Of right and wrong.
! irrespective of the law, their right 10
each others property should be equal
Q. Has he any right to the control
over the rents of her real estate?
a. No
! q Is there any statute securing to
/ the wife any portion Of the family in
come subject To her own control with
/ out the husbands dictatiou?
A. I think not.
Q. Is the wife responsible by the law
I for the support OF the children II the
husband does not support them7
A She is. Under the contract of
} s--s. .rrssra.
equally each others burdens. and
should the husband prove 10 be in
capable of supporting his offspring. it
/ IS the wife's duty 10 do SO.
Q. Has she "a right to a part Of the
/ children's earnings
/ A. She has up 90 the time Of maturity.
Q. is the husband liable 20 the ex-
1 penses Of some necessary for wife or
child Of which he disapproves?
A He is
@ Is she liable to his expenses for
/ ueccssaries2
a That is a somewhat unusual ques-
+ tion. should say that she would
not be.
Q. Does she inherit equally with her
! husband the property OF a deceased
/ chud2
A What the law IS on the subject ]
/ cannot say, but I think it Is negative
/ In All justice, however, she should have
an equal share.
/ Q. Is the wife entitled to share in the
] control Of the children
Cannot Control Children.
A. She has not a right 10 have charge
/ Of the children I cannot say why.
Q Is the wife to be consulted in the
choice Of a home2
A. think she should be consulted
AS remember, she has the right OF
domicue
Q. Do the salaries paid women aver
age as high as those paid men. and il
not. what ratio do they bear to those
paid men?
A. The salaries paid women are not
as high as those paid men, and there is
no reason why they should be There
are two great things which prevent
{ women from reaching high success in
any line. First, her nature, and sec
ondly lack Of incentive. Woman was
not intended to reach d high position
I in the professional or business world
/ Her place is at the home. and try
though she will to kill her real nature
she cannot pass a certain degree OF
/ proficiency. \ man goes into the world
and seeks fame that he may win a
/ home and some good woman. What
/ woman enters the business world that
/ she may win a husband who will look
after the home? I say again that
women have not the nature or the in
centive to make a great success in bus
/ mess as a class.