The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-28
WoMEN,s CLUBS URGED TO
SllppCRY DORSED BILLS.

SUPPORT ENDORSED BILLS
In order to further the object OK the
legislative committee of the Florida
Federation of Women's Clubs, tine
chairman Of the COMMITTEES, Mrs.
Frank e. Jennings. OF Jacksonvliie,
has prepared and submitted nnaI
messaee to each club in the federa-
ton to consider the important mat
fers presented.
An appeal is made that each CLUB
appoint q special legislative commit
tee to communicate with the repre-
sentativez of their respective coun-
ties now in legislature assembled ana
ask their support of the bills en-
doxsed by the federation through It's
legislative committee.
Prompt action is particularly urg-
ed and it is hoped the clubs Will re-
spond.
In the final appeal and message SUBJ
mites BY Mrs. Jennings. as chair
man of the legislative committee OF
the federation, an outline OF nine pro-
posed bills is given
The final message is as Follows:
The legislative committee OF the
Florida Federation or Women's CLUBS
has committed itself to work Tor the
Following laws at the ensuing session
OF the state Legislature.
The Florida legislature convenes oniy
every two years, not annually, as that
of a great many states, and It De-
hooves the women of the federation TO
get busy and seek to accomplish as
much as possible at this session, since
we do not have another chance for
two years.
We want first: A law to remove q
married wonan's disability in the mat.
ter of making contracts concerning
and binding her individual estate and
aging her individual property.
A married woman IS Florida cannot
make contract about anything. II
any of you, who are wives, buy set
of books or the installment plan (and
we are badgered and persuaded INTO
doing this sometimes)) and sign
contract as to the payments on the
books, it is not valid, and cannot be
legally enforced. Neither can your
husband be forced to pay for them
since he is legally responsible only
for the bills which you contract Tor
necessities) Only your conscience
and your seIf-respect, which should be
sufficient for everyone. but unfortun-
ately it not. holds you to pay Tor
those books. Not every woman Is
honest and honorable. There are many
who to escape an irate husbands
any bubble of the law to get out of
contract which had become burden.
Let women feel a business RESPONSE
bilfty and they will be more careful
about entering into agreements OF any
nature An unmarried woman may
manage her own business and sue and
be sued, as If she were sensible
human being. but the law assumes
that matrimony in the part of wom-
an Is an evidence of mental incom-
potency.
n a women, "for a good and sum
Gent reason" becomes dissatisfied with
her husbands management OF her
property. she may go into court. and
by process Of law. be made free
dealer" which entities her to all the
privileges of an unmarried woman.
This entails an undesirable publicity,
and Is also an expense: besides, we do
not want the privileges of an unnaar-
ried woman. We only want an equal
right with our husbands, In his man
agement and disposition of our indi-
vidual property.
Women on School Boards.
We want second: A law to place
women on the school boards.
In Florida. woman has never
served on the school board. Every
mother knows how essential it is that
women should interest themselves in
matters pertaining to the public
schools Hence, we are introducing
bill asking that it may be made legal
for a womans name to be placed upon
the ticket of an election, in order that
she may be elected to a position on
the school board.
A number of prominent lawyers over
the state have been consulted upon the
necessity of introducing that bill. The
consensus of opinion is that there
seems to be no constitutional reason
why women may not serve IN such
position, but an eminent judge adds:
"Tt may be construed that the provf-
sions Of the primary election law
would preclude a woman from being
nominated by the primary to such
position The law referred to pro-