Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-05-12
COLORADO WOMEN THINk GOOD
WHIPPING AT POST MIGHT
sIRAIGnTEN HUSBANDS.
new LAW IS NOW NEEDED
Never Has Been Punishment Severe
Enough Melted out "a Man Who
Leaves Ills Family. Declares one.

mas lonb Urea ~ lhc TASK oI ldhlllS
proyder may now escape IN this state
SO long as his wife and helpless lit
tie ones can't find him ana bring
him back.
The last legislature made the Of
fonse a felony, punishable with not
less than one year in the state peni-
tentiarY repeating all previous laws
10y which it had been classcd as
misdemoanor
Judge Harry Q. Riddle has de-
clared the 1917 law unconstitutional,
inasmuch as II is 'leaky,' because II
places the punishment Of "A man CON
victed of the charge of nonsupporl
at one year In prison and leaves the
court the liberty Of releasing the cul-
prlt under bond Of $1,000 on his
promise to be good and do his duty
to his family
Denver WOmcn-women VINO vote
and have part in the progress oi
anairs-are alarmed at the situation.
They assert that If IT becomes nee
essary for the state to pass new
law for the punishment of shlftless
males who deliberately walk out
from under responsibilities when
were of their own choosing hey
want to have hand in the making
Of that law.
When things are Tome 10 such
pass that man may go scott-free
for such heartless procedure, the
time has come for women TO demand
their unused right of sitting on lnrles'
particularly in cases Of this nature
they say.
And woe hetlde the hapless dodger
of duty who comes before a jury ol
Denver wives and mothers
Here are the opinions of three wo-
men who for courage and intelleclual
ability are known throughout the
state and beyond-and decide for
Yourself what their composite verdict
might be;
For Whipping Post.
Forewoman of the jury, Mrs. John
f.. Shafroth, wife Of the governor:
II like the idea of the Whipping post
for a man who viii leave his wife
and poor little children; there Is no
meaner thing on the face of the
earth, and have always thought that
there was no punishment adequate
for the offense. a public whipping
post, il seems to me, would be as
near an approach "a anything to
what is needed to put such men back
into line and make them willing TO
do their duty.
Am J. like many women, too
chicken hearted to wish to see man
sent to the penitentiary, no matter
what he might do? Certainly pot.
They say that many of the men who
are in prison are the victims OF en-
Vironment-that they never really
had a chance. Perhaps not, but that
doesx>t prevent us from seeing that
they are dangerous or harmful to So
ciety and~should be placed where
they can work no harm TO others.
They ought to be sent to the peni-
tentiary.
Il do think, though, that the mat
ter should be so arranged that for
mans labors while imprisoned, some
wages should be paid, to be turned
over to his family, who in most cases
need the money. Just simply putting
man in prison because he doesn't
support his wife and children does
no good and cannot possibly alter
their unfortunate situation.
1T is too bad that the law has
been declared invalid. We have been
discussing it and hope that the thing
will be speedily adjusted"
Advocate Worlhouse.
Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker: "'There
has never been any punishment Sc
we're enough meted out to the man
who runs away from his family
am sorry that the present law has
been declared unconstitutional. 1t
seems to me 10 be very good one.
But if a man could be brought back
when he deserts put to work-forced
to work-preferably in workhouse,
and his earnings turned over to those
dependent on him, | think that the
evil could. be checked. and possibly
controlled. ] advocate the work
house system"
Mrs. Alma V. Lafferty. member OF
the last IpRlSldluIC' ~ . -
that the law has been declared IN
valid. But 1t wasn't framed upon
my ideas at the time 1t was passed
We women wanted to incorporate
clause-tried our best to get 1t in
providing that during mans I'M
prisonment something should be paid
for his labor to his family. But they
wouldn't have it that way. I'll tell
you, the law has been a joke any
how. They bring men back from 9TH
er states, try them and-convict
them9 Certainly not! There isn't
Judge that has or would-no man
Judge!
"The time has come when women
must sit on juries. especially In this
sort Of cases. Justice can't be done
until they do. There is no punish
ment sereve enough for the wife de-
serter, and II women could nave
chance to try him-well. weh see!'