Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-10
Reciprocity Club Discusses
Woman's S Standing in Law

Many members of the Parent-Teach-
ers' association We're in attendance al
the Reciprocity luncheon at Christie
piers Tuesday. The Reciprocity club
being an outgrowth of the associa-
tlon. the work accomplished along lines
concerning women and children in the
few months Of it's existence has been
followed with especial interest.
There was a large attendance at the
luncheon 10 listen to the interesting
talks by the speakers of the day
Mrs Frank L. Wheat a S chairman
of the Reciprocity. committee presided
at the meeting which was one of un-
usual interest and very well attended
about 100 being in attendance.
Mrs Clara Lewis Of the Civic clut
gave an interesting address and Mrs
Harriet Williams Myers made an ap-
peal to those present 10 petition mem
bers of congress through their various
organizations asking them to give
their attention to the legislation now
pending concerning the seal question
Mrs. Mary A. Kenney gave a timely
and enlightening talk on Some Thlnss
Women Should Know About Caltfor-
MIA law" She spoke especially of the
Injustice of the law that does not make
The mother equal guardian of the child
with the father Under the California
law the father is the legal guardian
of the child and this law, existing IN
all except fourteen states of the Union
is considered an injustice in many
ways, lowering the dignity of the
mother in the home and lessening her
influence.
Another law cited as unjust to won-
en- was that relating to community
property, leaving the husband the right
to dispose at will of the property ac-
ouired by husband and wife in case of
the death of the latter, making 1t pos
sible to work an injustice to children
of the marriage.
In referring to the divorce laws, the
speaker asked the pertinent question;
While governors, lawyers, ministers
and judges are holding meetings to
consider divorce laws, did you ever
know them to ask women to come in
and help them in their deliberations
one might suppose that women had
nothing whatever TO do with it, while
the truth is that divorce affects women
much more than il does men and it is
about time they at least had an op-
portunity to discuss the matter.
After stating the trouble was that
the laws are made from the mans
point of view. Mrs. Kinney asked the
women present how many Of them
managed their children, controlled
their maids and ran their houses from
the husbands point of view, and the
smile that ran around the room seemed
tn indicate that most Of them did not
Admitting that it would he equally
one-sided if the women were allowed
to make the laws for the men, it would
seem that the only way to maintain
the proper balance is TO give women
the right to help them make the laws
that shall govern them and their chill
dren. ,..,..,.,, -,,,,,,or
The meeting Of the Child Study circle
of the Thirtieth street school was de-
voted to a round table conducted by
Mrs. Kerr and a very interesting dis
cussion was held by the mothers and
teachers on the subject Of child de-
velopment and training.
The members of this circle have
special interest i'm the playground Of
the Thirtieth street school, one of the
largest in the city, and have devoted
their efforts to its Improvement. This
playground viii be open during the
entire summer with a man and woman
in charge.
UNION AVENUE CIRCLE
The Union Aevenue Parent-Teachers
association will give an entertainment
for the benefit Of the Utah street day
nursery and maternity cottage on the
evening of April Is at the residence Of
Captain J, D. F'redericks, 25S North
Union avenue. Judge N. p Conrey,