New-York tribune., 1908-02-26
DISAGREE WITH JUSTICE BREWER
Women Want Rights and Not Protection
They Say.

Arc women wards of the state and should the
law give them more protection than IL gives to
men? Justice Gray ruled. in the recent decision
declaring unconstitutional that section OF the Iapoi
law which forbids q woman working at night, that
women should not be made the objects OF paternal
care. But the Supreme Court of the United states
takes a different view. In upholdlng the decision
of the courts of Oregon that mo female shall be
ernnioyed AT mechanical Ia hor for than ten
hours during any day" Justice Brewer eApresseu
the opinion that many accounts women are en-
titled to greater protection than men He THINKS
that woman will always have TO look to man tor
protection when placed on an equal pohllca
and economic plane and that "a proper discharge
of her maternal functons-having IN view not
merely her own health but the well being OF the
race-justifies legislation protect her from the
greed as well as the passion of man.. justice
Brewer is very chivalrous. but his desire TO pro-
1ect women is not universally appreciated oy the
fair sex. Women accused of ho~llhG Ior the
ballot and at the same time asking for greater
legal protection than is accorded 70 hell' pul
nearly all the women seen yesterday were Qui'e
out of patience with Justice Brewer.
Il know no reason why should have different
laws for women" said Miss Mary Garrett Hay
treasurer of the New York Equal Suffrage League
Il believe in equality, and want not only poh'cai
eouaIitv between the sexes. but equality in every
single thing in life.
We're not asking any odds of men,, said Miss
Helen Varick Boswell president OF Iie :" pn,al
Civic Forum. We want equality irrespective "i
eex There should be no more law for women than
for men. and no less
Il strongly disagree with Justice brewer salu
Mrs B. Eoorrnan Wells, Of England, when seen at
the sufragette headquarters, at No. o3 west 14th
street AT the present time it may be necessary
for Us to look for protection TO men, and for few
generations may continue TO De the "eaAei &C.,
t,+ Justice Brewer has only TO look at the savage
tribes 10 see that when women are allowed 10 De
,-a1o, naturally they are not weaker than men,
don't know. anyway, why there should be so much
talk about the physical strength of women. We
6o,,t an want TO carry bricks. All men don't carry
bricks As for the maternal function, which seems
10 give Justice Brewer much concern, 1t is only
a, inci.lent You would think to hear some people
talk that women did nothing but bear children
every Gay and all day long. If women were free
m choose their own occupations L have no doubt
that there are some things that they would natu-
rally leave to men. Those things would regulate
themselves without special legislation and If the
would not fail too heavily on any ones shoulders,
even those OF the weaker
Mrs William Grant Brown. president of the
Woman's West End Republican Club, Character
lied Justice Breeer's remarks as nonsense"
Il would not say that women should have more
protection than men," said Mrs Philip Carpenter,
president Of Sorosis, but I think they require a
somewhat different kind OF protection. In the fam
lily you don't treat girl precisely as you would
boy"
Mrs stoddard Hammond, president of the New
York State Federation Of WOmens Clubs agreed
with Mrs Carpenter, and added:
AT the present time, without ballot and with
all our other disadvantages, think the law may
very properly show us little extra consideration
Miss Emile Bullowa, d lawyer, considers it
rirely inconsistent for women TO ASK for the bal
lot as If they when at the time
they are asking for special protection from the
laws as If they children"