Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-09-29
STATE FEDERATION
Of WOMEN'S CLUBS
Mrs. Scion Shedd, President

noor Club Women of Washington;
A. the convention held last June,
mo state Federation passed . resolu-
ZION urging our law-making bodies
= washington to pass the Thompson
nm -. IT'S. looking to the divorce Of
citizenship from marr:aev.
That marriage should affect the
.totus of woman toward her state,
nor nation, is a remnant of the legal
rrmciple laid down in the common
,ow which says, Marriage, for
woman, is a coverture and during it's
continuance the woman's existence
before the law is suspended" In
other words, man and wife are one,
and man is that one. 1t does seem
Incredible that in this, the twentieth
century, such an antiquated, medi-
eyal principle should be resurrected.
Rut such is the case. AS late as 1907
this principle of the common law,
which had been cast aside by many
states in regard to property control
nv married women, was embodied in
an expatriation act for all married
women in the United States by our
federal congress. Suffrage is de-
clared by many, who ought to know
better, solely matter for the yari-
Gus states to decide Yet citizenship,
upon which the right to vote is pri-
marily based, is, by constitutional
law, completely a federal matter.
In consequence thereof, no state
has the power to grant to women the
right of suffrage upon the same
terms as to men. This, in spite Of
the fact that nearly all state amend
ments granting women the right of
political franchise are worded upon
the same terms as to men"
1t is as absurd to have the citizen
ship of the wife depend upon that Of
her husband as it would be to nave
the husbands status affected by that
Of his wife. No one dreams of hay
ing marriage change the status Of the
nan toward his state. In the mar
rage ceremony not one wOru is said
about change of status toward Che
state for either party to the union,
therefore, this act of 1907 OBVIOUSLY
takes away from a woman citizen a
right guaranteed to her by the con-
stitution of the United States. Do
not confuse citizenship with the right
to vote; many citizens never vote f0s
obvious reasons, yet they are citizens
and, therefore, entitled to protection
under our flag.
To deny to an American woman
the citizenship, hers by birth, train
ing or adoption, simply and solely be-
cause she has married an alien, yet
continues to reside in the United
States, engenders bitterness against
country whose government is
guilty of such an act of stupid in
Justice. On the other hand, to grant
citizenship to the foreign wife of an
American husband in the same sill
emit, devious way, is hardly conducive
70 proper valuation of the sacred
privilege of citizenship. Ever since
'he men Of Washington granted to
thelr sisters the right of suffrage this
writer has earnestly pleaded for re-
peal OF the expatriation act of March,
IVY. In the 63rd and Gath con
crosses of our United States there
nave been bills, whose purpose it was
70 remove this unnatural and un-
american disability. Senator Will
IAN Howard Thompson of Kansas
nas persistenly introduced such q
measure and will re-introduce the
same In our next congress. AS stat
80 before, this bill was endorsed by
'ne Washington State Federation of
women's Clubs at the convention
neid at Everett last June. Memorials
Ssned by practically all civic and
Social organizations in Seattle were
PRESENTED to congress by Hon. Miles
ioindexter. Throughout this and
O'uer states, through various
"omen's organizations, letters have
Oeeh sent to many congressman on
.uis measure. The National Women's
ouristlan Temperance Union has &C
uVeiy furthered the campaign. The
ouioh Card and Label League of Sc
a..ie has persistently followed up
'Ais attempted Legislation for the
p"'' TWO years. Individuals and or
eauizatlons in Tacoma deserve spe-
mention. The Legislative FEEDER
s'ion OF King County has stood for
Ae repeal of the 1907 act since its
O'sanization in 1913. The obstacle
e0ns to be an inability to see its
ornamental Importance.
!" is not surprising that women
cain, e@ing the franchise should lose
!. en' Oh all other issues involved; but
inexcusable for the women vot-