Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-04
LAWYERS SNUBBING OF
WOMEN'S CLAIMS GETS
RAPFROM MRS. DOUGLAS

The learned lawyers at the Georgia
bar convention discussed the topic Of
women's admission to the bar from a
faeetious standpoint because they were
too brilliant and intellectual to en-
deavor to speak in any other than a
facetious way against the right of
women to practice law. There are many
great lawyers who know there is no
valid reason why women should not
practice"
Mrs. Hamilton Douglas, in the
breeze swept living room in her East
Cain street apartments, was speaking.
Mrs. Douglas is herself qualified to
practice law. having been given her
degree at the University of Michigan
And though she is content to remain at
home and let her husband prominent
member of the Atlanta bar, earn the
fees for the family, She has not been
slow to take up the defense of women
less fortunate. who might prefer home
life but who must earn their living for
themselves.
The Georgia Bar association, at it's
meeting at Atlantic Beach, had chosen
for its principal topic, Shall Women
Be Admitted to Practice in Georgia
Courts?" Several of the most brilliant
lawyers OF the state had been assigned
to speak on the question, though no
formal debate was arranged But the
speakers did not approach the subject
seriously; they seemed to think 1t Of
fered excellent opportunity for With
cisms and little ground for opposition
to the appeal of women graduates in
law; so they took refuge in fun and
avoided the real issue.
Judge FaVors Women.
Only Judge John L. Hopkins. one of
the oldest and ablest lawyers of Allan
ia, treated the topic with the dignity it
deserved. He sent to the association
brief and dgnfled paper defending
the right of women to practice law,
which was read by the secretary. No
formal action was taken by the asso-
citation.
But while it was fun for the lawyers,
the women who hold now useless diplo-
mas from law colleges have so far
failed to appreciateathe humor of the
| subject, and believe the question, If
discussed at ALL should have been given
due consideration and decided upon its
merits. The Endorsement of the bar
association would have gone long
way toward bringing about a change in
| the statute admitting women to the
bar
But the time is coming" continued
Mrs Douglas, when there is a serious
call from the women-even a very few
women-I have not particle of doubt
that the law will be changed. AS Hoop
er Alexander told the legislature last
summer it may not come this year or
next but 1t is inevitable
Law Alone Bars Women.
q have often wondered how it hap
pens that the law is the only profession
which excludes women. In Atlanta we
have woman doctors, woman dentists,
woman minister (of the Christian
Science church, and women in nearly
every profession. Why. the law would
not permit a woman to be state libra
rian few years ago, but one woman
made up her mind to hold the place,
and the law was changed. The law
barring women from legal practice will
be changed in Georgia, as II has been
In other states, when vigorous effort
! is made.
in the Western and Northwestern
states there has never been discus
sion Of this question, for from the very
beginning women have stood shoulder
to shoulder with the pioneer men, But
in the older states, where social condi-
lions have been more cut-and- dried,
there had to be these realgnments.
Georgia seems to be in kind of back
water-but l am too good a Georgian
to believe she will stay in the back
water long.
Not Homes For All Women.
Every woman would rather be at
and children, but there are a great
many more women now than there are
sheltered homes for them. In the old
en- days there was plenty of work for
women at home. There was weaving
and spinning and other occupations
which have passed from the home into
the factory. Women have had to fol-
low the work out of the home itno fac
tory or office There has never been
question of a woman's right to do man
ual labor-she has only been barred
from the use of certain intellectual at
tainments
Some people who argue against
women practicing law say the courts
have many cases which would be en-
barrassing to women and, therefore
the law is no place for them. The
practice of medicine offers many more
opportunities for embarrassment and l
have heard few objections to women
physicians.
But even it is true that the law
sometimes brings cases a woman would
not like to argue in court. there is no