Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-03

1t is the aim of the legal department
of the Woman's Christian Temperance
union to bring it's influence to bear on
legislative bodies for the enactment of
just laws and the repeal of unjust
ones; to secure a constitutional amend
ment for the prohibition of the liquor
traffic: to secure such legislation as
will prohibit the white slave traffic
and effectually stamp out the hideous
crime which is a deadly menace to all
young womankind..
Many of the unions in country places
and small towns have no legal depart
ments, but it is important that every
w. c. T. U. woman should be familiar
with the laws of the state relating to
herself and children and be prepared
at any time to use her influence for the
| protection of her home and loved ones.
The pitfalls of destruction are found
| in the most remote corners as well as
in the cities, and no mother knows how
| soon the boy or girl she has reared
next victim. The element of mother
love in government is the only hope
of safety for the girls and boys from
the dangers which beset them.
In the Progressive Woman are few
California laws compiled by Alice Park
and declared correct, which are here
given for the thoughtful consideration
of The Herald readers:
A woman may make any legal con-
tract a man may make. The courts
have decided she is person and
citizen, though not a voter.
A woman who is unmarried suffers
no injustice as to property rights. She
may hold property, engage in busi-
ness and will property as freely as
| man.
An unmarried woman has the same
right that a man has, married or un-
married, of relinquishing citizenship in
! the country of her birth or of her one
| legal parent, and enrolling as citizen
in the country of her choice.
Marriage gives to a woman the cit
! izenship of her husband. An Amer
| lean girl who marries a Frenchman
becomes a foreigner.
| Marriage has no effect upon mans
| citizenship He is counted as Sepa-
rate individual always. She is not so
counted. Charlotte Perkins Gilman
calls her "subcitizen."
Marriage takes away even wom-
ans name. This is distinct loss If
a man lost his name by marriage he
would be able to see his loss. Prece-
dent has blinded both men and women
| on this point.
A wife may hold separate property.
All that she had before marriage (pro-
vided care is taken to separate 1t in
! the beginning and keep it separately all
that she may receive as gift or inher-
| itance, is separate property This may
| he kent in her name alone and is who'll
! ly under her control A husband may
| hold separate property under similar
| conditions.
A homestead may be declared by
| either husband or wife, its value be-
| b. The furniture. of
the home and the clothing of the wife
and children are community property,
but may not be sold without the con-
sent of the wife.
Joint property is that owned in part
nership.
All earnings of husband and wife are
| community property. If this were re-
allv held in common it would belong to
| both partners. But community prop
erty is under control of the husband
| alone. Calling it community or COM
| mon, is small comfort as the husband
controls it just as long as he may live
The only restrictions placed upon the
husband are that he shall not give such
property away and cannot VIII II all
! away. He can will away half of 1t.
But the wife cannot will away the
| other half The half he cannot VIII
| away she can have If she outlives him.
| If she dies first she loses the shadow
| of title she had alive. Whlle ne lives
| she cannot control a dollar of COM
munity property, even though it is a
| dollar she earned. If she dies first she
cannot will any part Of community
,tronerty to anybody. Her death re-
moves all restrictions and gives it all
to him absolutely.
It is a matter of common knowledge
that the wife is required to sign deeds
when the husband sells property. Many
people wrongly believe that this sig
nature is necessary, and that it i'm
plies q degree of control by the wife,
even a half interest in the property.
These conclusions are false,
II she did not sign the deed there
would be a possibility of suit over
the title, in order to prove that the
property was sold for a valuable con-
sideration, the only conveyance the
! husband is forbidden to make. To
prevent a possible suit with cost and
delay. the lawyer and buyer require
the wife's signature. But the action
! is only a precaution. Wives have tried