Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-21
WOMEN LAWYERS ARE
FAVORED BY THE HOUSE
bill to Let Them Practice Law
in Georgia Is Passed by
131 to So

TIL bill to allow women to practice
law in the state of Georgia was passed
Thursday in the house of representa-
tives by a vote of 131 to So, after spir-
tied arguments covering a period of two
days had been advanced both for and
against the measure. The speakers
against the bill withstood a running fire
by them. A large audience of womer
in the gallery followed the arguments
attentively, aDplauding as the occasion
demanded.
The first speaker for the bill was Rep
resentative Beck, of Murray county, and
he regretted, he said, that it had always
been treated with levity rather than
with the serious attention which it de-
served. He said that the objection that
women would demoralize the legal pro-
fession or that they would be demoraliz-
ed by admission intothe legal profession,
was preposterous. He said that women
had made good in every calling into
which they have entered and that they
would make good in the legal profess
sion.
Women have become bread-winners
and whether we relish the idea of women
making their own living or not, the fact
is that hundreds of women are COMPEL
ed to earn their own way and every
profession should be open to them,
he said.
The next speaker was Representative
Stark, of Jackson county, who spoke
against the bill. He declared that the
bill is an insidious move to strike wom-
an down from the high pedestal they
have always occupied in the south. He
said that he was frank to admit that
there was a good deal of sentiment In
his objection to the idea of women going
into the court room to fight their way
with men.
Representative Davis, of Laurens-
spoke in favor of the bill He declared
it was fair and just that women should
be allowed to practice law, inasmuch as
they are allowed to practice medicine, to
be trained nurses, stenographers, cot
ton mill operatives, farm hands, cooks
and household drudges.
BARBER, OF GRADY, OPPOSES.
REPRESENTATIVE Barber, of Grady,
spoke against the bill. He took his
place in the central aisle and addressed
himself with great JUNCTION to the
women in the gallery. and brought down
the mousse WIN applause anu lduShIeT.
The burden of his argument was that
to allow women to practice law will
take them away from the responsible
ties of the freside. He was asked
whether he objected to women working
in the fields and in the cotton mills.
His answer was that he would rather
see them thus engaged and maintain
their integrity and virtue, than to see
them associated with certain lawyers of
his acquaintance. This reply CONFUSED
the lawyers of the house with laughter
and one of them asked him If he was
a lawyer himself. His reply was that
IL the questioner had not been able to
determine from observing his conduct
whether he was a lawyer or a plain
citizen, he would decline to answer the
question.
The argument in favor of the bill
was concluded by Representative Griffin,
of Lowndes.
Among the bills introduced into the
house Thursday was one by Represen-
tative Burwell, of Hancock. speaker of
the house. to authorize the Western and
Atlantic releasing commission to sell
the Western ana Atlantic railroad.
the motion to make the bill to re-
peal the tax equalization law a special
order was postponed until next Wednes-
day.