The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1909-01-30
SAYS WIVES ARE SLAVES
A New York Woman Who Asks for =
Divorce Under the Thirteenth
Amendment to the
Constitution

New York. Jan. 30.-Believing that
wifehood is unwilling servitude," as
contemplated in the thirteenth amend
nent to the constitution of the Unit
ed States, Mrs. Jane Welch-Strong. a
Gibson type Of young woman. living
in New York City has brought suit for
divorce under the amendment. and
said this week she expected TO win.
"unless il is true that in this great
republic there is enc law for. the men
and another for the women"
This handsome wife-she is only
81 years of age-says her last four
years OF married life have made her a
domestic slave. She and her husband,
w. Edward Strong. with their baby.
Dorothy, still live together in a four
room fiat at No. 545 West 125th street.
but they live apart, although stiIl
friends.
Are Wives sIaves7
isn't a woman tied down by mar
riage in uncongenial surroundings as
much a slave. or probably more so.
than the negroes who were freed under
this thirteenth amendment" she ask
ed.
what use is law If it cannot be
invoked by the weaker sex? Hasn't
she as much right 20 call II to her
aid as men slaves"
Mrs Strong is a tall, dark haired
young woman with large blue eyes. The
couple were married in Batavia n 4.
Il thought loved my husband" she
said He was the first man who ever
told me that he loved me, and / did
not stop to ask my heart questions.
Mr.. Strong is "a and English. 1t is
just splendid of him to consent to this
present plan. We talked it over. de-
cided Il was best. and are living here
together just Ike good fellows.
VIII Not Desert Husband
IT cannot leave, because that would
be desertion. and he would get the d.
vorce and the baby. He will not leave
without the baby l cannot get a di-
vorce on the sole grounds allowed by
the New York laws, because 1 have no
such grounds.
But ] am as much a slave as any
negro / ever heard of before the war.
drudge here in these few rooms
without good clothing. without pleas
ure of any sort, without hope of rest
or vacation We have one child, and
/ / don't knox how we are to bring her
up and educate her properly. Ny hGs-
band simply cannot support us: that
| is all.
Il believe that children under cir
cumstances such as ours are mistakes
and the state is responsible. The state
| is partner to our marriage contract
and should bear its share of the re-
sponsibility for the results Of that con-
tract. We demand that if the state re-
fuses my divorce plea IL pension this
child in my custody
Might Marry Again
Under other circumstance 1 be-
ilieve | could be happy though mar
ried. If l should get my divorce and a
man appeared whom could love. and
who had money. should re-marry.
There are two vital reasons for
marriage-love and money. l do not
love my husband at all now. do not
believe that any condition could arise
under which / could love him again
He understands this perfectly. Love
is dead between us, and the law should
! free me from this wicked slavery.
Il am not afraid of motherhood. but
every time l might become a mother
should take that chance Of death
and ] do not intend TO do II, unless
an, well provided for.
Involuntary servitude cited in thu
thirteenth amendment means 'unwill-
ing service ! am an unwilling ser
want in my own house. l shall fgh
this out for the sake of all women
can work and hope to take my little
daughter and make living for US af'
ter this is over"
Represented by Lady Lawyer
The divorce action was brought b.
Mrz Henrietta NJ. Johnson. lawyer
at No. so Wall street. New York. wh'
saws she intends to take the case &