The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-03-28
OHIO WOMEN RESENT THE
NIX-ON-PEEKA ABOO BILL
Wont Consent to Give Up Openwork
Hosiery and Other Allurements
Unless Granted the Right to Es-
tablish Length of Mems Trousers.

Columbus, Ohio, March 2O.-The
enactment of the Capello bill to regu-
late the apparel of women through
state commission would prevent the
wearing of peekaboo waists, open
work hosiery or any other sort of
raiment through which the flesh
would show; skirts, the hem of which
would come above the instep or cor
sages that do not reach up to a point
at least two inches from the chin.
Nor could close-ftting gowns, reveal
ing the contour of the figure, be worn
in Ohio. Dealers in women's cloth
ing could not be permitted to display
undraped female figure, real or arti-
fetal. For each of these offenses fines
of from $5 to $40 are provided except
for the wearing of decollete gown or
open-work hosiery, for which fine
of $25 is prescribed.
Representative Capelle said he had
provided that each member of the
commission must be the father of at
least three children and must be be-
tween thirty and fifty years old, be-
cause he felt that they should bring
mature judgment and the experience
of parents to their arduous tasks.
women have shown that they
simply will not dress properly un-
less they are made to do So" said
Mr.. Capelle. For years preachers
and moralists have been trying to
persuade them to do so, and no
progress has been made 1t is time
to try legislation to prevent the dis
play that is becoming more and
more immodest. Women should un-
derstand that to display themselves
on the street is different from the
laNity that may safely be indulged
in in their own homes and in the
presence of their own sex only"
Representatives of the leading wo-
mems organizations here almost
without exception object to the bill.
They ridiculed and denounced it to-
day. Mrs. Dora Sandle Bachman,
president of the Columbus school
board, said: "Women's dress should
not be subject to law, but determined
by the individual taste"
Mrs. Whitacre of the Women's
club, said: Hands off unless wo-
men can dictate the length of mems
trousers"
Mrs l.. T. Gooding, of the We'd
nesday Literary club, said: "Women
of good taste know how to dress, and
no law can help women of bad
taste"
Mrs. w. H. King, prominent suf-
fragette, said: "No doubt the serious
questions confronting our legisla-
lures have befuddled their brains"
Mrs. Dixon l.. Moore said: at
must be joke. If not the legislators
are going crazy, and we are not go
ing along"
DIR. Ida Wilson said: "Why, men
are debating our costumes now.
Even today the tailors make me wear
dress that is only two feet around
the bottom when l want one that is
four"
Mrs. c. c. Pavey, of the Sorosis
club, said: al think Legislators would
go back to their ploughs and attend
to that for which they are suited"
"Freak legislation" said Mrs.
William Sharp, of the Bradamante
club.
Capelle is the only Republican
member in the Hamilton county
(CincinnatD delegation in the house,
and it is suspected by some that his
object in introducing the bill was to
embarrass Governor James NJ Cox,
who has been a"t;ve in urging Il vice
probe.