The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-03-19
WOMEN To Be Equal
MUST give UP much
Can't Expect to Vote and Stand
Beside Man and Still Enjoy
Special Privileges.


Wheeler and Henry w. Hayden, law
yers of New York, who analysed the
laws of the State to show that New
York women have, in reality, more to
lose than gain in obtaining true po-
litical quality. Neither Mr. Wheeler
nor MIR. Hayden was able to put his
finger on a single law which discrimi-
mated against women. Both on the
other hand, cited numerous instances
where the "man-made" laws confer
upon women exemptions and privi-
legee not enjoyed by man.
Briefly, a woman is favored under
the law in the following ways.
She is exempt from military SER
vice.
She is exempt from jury duty.
A married woman is not obliged TO
contribute toward the support of the
family.
She may work and earn money and
do with it as she pleases.
She may own real and personal
property, and may sell and dispose
of it as she pleases without her hus-
bands consent. The husband cannot
dispose of his real estate without his
wife's consent.
She is not obliged to pay her hus-
bands bills, even though they are
for family expenses. The husband
must pay her bills.
If through his fault she obtains a
divorce, the husband must pay ali
mony. But if through her fault he
obtains divorce, she pays nothing.
She may be worth millions and cut
him off without cent in her will. He
cannot cut off her dover right.
If he dies intestate leaving chill
dren, they receive two-thirds and the
widow one-third of his personal es-
tate besides her dover right" of
ope-third of his real estate. If she
dies, leaving children, the husband is
entitled to one third of her personal
estate, but nothing else.
If he own the home in which they
live, he cannot sell or mortgage it
without the signature of his wife. If
she own it she may do with it as
she pleases.
If the husband fails to support her,
he may be arrested and prosecuted
lcriminally. No matter how wealthy
she is or how sick or poor he is, the
wife cannot be compelled to support
him.
When a girl is married under IS,
The man may be punished as an alb
doctor if the parents consent was
not obtained. But there is no pun
ishment for the girl, no matter how
young the man may be.
Factory owners may not put wo-
men to work in their shops before 6
81. m. or keep them there after 9 p.
m. nor may they force women to
work more than ga hours or six days
week. There is no such law for
male employees.
= III the sufragists really want
equality remarked Mr.. Hayden,
"these laws preferring women must
be repealed to obtain it,"
II was pointed out by Mr. Wheeler
that the suffragists claim they would
gladly serve on juries in return for
the vote.
But what" he asked, edo they
suggest when it comes to military
service? That is something they GER
tainly can't do. l have heard it said
that women will work as nurses or
that they can raise the next genera
tion of soldiers in return for the bal
lot. But they are quite free to do
both things now without the ballot,
and they are doing them"
Mr.. Wheeler also thought it was
Inconsistent 10 demand equality"
and not call for the repeal of the
laws which plainly give woman the
preference in many matters now. II
men and women are to be placed on
an equal footing in all things, he
argued, it would be necessary for the
latter 10 surrender the privileges
which they enjoy exclusively under
the law. He even contended that
this rule should be carried out in the
question of alimony.
Suppose We consider alimony in
the sense of payment for injuries re-
ceived" he said. 'If woman is en-
titled TO it because her husband was
at fault, does il not seem fair to say
that a man is also entitled to il when
his wife was at fault? Such is not
the case now, but it seems the logical
result of putting the political equal
fly idea into practice"
Mr.. Wheeler referred to a recent
decision of the Sureme Court in the