Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-08
WOMEN To DROP
MRS. TITLE, SAYS
SUFFRAGE HEAD
why Label Brides?' She Asks
Custom Foolish and Unfair to
Women Of Fame

NEW YORK, March Taking a
husbands name is a custom that VIII
probably be outgrown some day, be-
cause we have outgrown the condl-
tions that created this custom. 1t no
longer has its basis in necessity.
There is no more reason for labelling
a married woman than there is TOT
labelling a married man-it is JUST
custom"
In these words of Endorsement OF
the widespread campaign on the part
Of married women to retain their
maiden names, DIR. Marie Jenney
Howe voiced the sentiment of Foia
LaFollette. expressed last week at TIE
great Feminist meeting at Cooper
Union.
Mrs. Howe is the wife Of DR.. Fred
eric c. Howe, director of the People
Institute. Previous to her MARRIAGE
Mrs. Howe occupied Unitarian pull
pit. She was recently elected leader
OF the Twenty fifth Assembly District
of the Woman's Suffrage party.
Gives Own Experience.
At her apartment In West Twelfth
street Mrs. Howe told of the difficulty
she had met with in trying to keep
'at least part of her own name after
marriage"
six years before I married Dr.
Howe l had been Unitarian minis.
ter. Naturally l had large circle OF
friends. | had become identified with
certain work, and l disliked the
idea of giving up my whole name
shortly after my marriage ! was
elected president Of the Ohio State
Consumers League. The women OF
the league objected so strongly to my
using my own name even with the
addition Of the name of Howe, that
submitted TO their wishes and had
Mrs. Frederic c. Howe printed on the
league stationery.
I'm voicing their protest to the use
of my name. the women said: .Bul
your name does not represent any
thing here in Cleveland where you are
a newcomer. DR.. Howe has lived here
fifteen years, they said and he is
well known | said. We'll, after
have lived here fifteen years | will
represent sometime, too
Custom in New York.
when / came to New York
had given up trying to keep my owr
name and / was greatly surprised
! lust after being elected to office IT
the Woman Suffrage party. to be
appealed to by the :GfraglSts 10 hsf
my own name. So the question of the
use of names is largely custom o.
locality. Nearly all the suffragists Ii
| New York / know write their owr
names in full. adding the last name Of
| their husbands.
This tendency TO independence OF
| the part of woman in the use of hel
| own name" continued Mrs. Howe, II
seen in all walks of life-in the pro
| fessions, in business, and even In th'
| women who merely have large cir
| Gle of frian3s and acquaintance.
mo matter how obscure a woman
! life may be, still she has her owl
friends, who know her by the nam'
she has had since childhood. Hel
| identity is just as precious TO her al
it is TO the professional woman.
"The custom of a married woman
retaining her own name is well estap-
Hshed in the life of the stage, sale
| Mrs. Howe. "a star never gives VI
her own name when she marries. Th'
! reason is obvious. The public hal
| grown familiar with this name and i
| would iniure her professionally If sn'
| changed it. The same is true o
women physicians, lawyers, dentists
| artists ana writers who have CLIMBED
to success on their own names.
"The more women are developed
| the more they feel the sense or per
sonal identity, and the more reluctan
they are to give up this identity.