Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-31
His ''Paramount Right as Father
Did Not Work in One Instance

his claim on a decision of Black.
stones, rendered in 1912, that: "The
very being and legal existence Of q
woman is suspended during mar.
riage, is consolidated in that of her
husband"
In handing down his decision, two
years ago, Justice Shearn said tina,
the world had moved since 1912
And moved it had. But during the
past year. or since we have declared d
war, it has torn along with breath
less speed, leaving outworn preju-
dices to futter in space like dead
leaves.
Justice Shcarn. in disposing of the
paramount right" claim, said that:
The only basis for the fathers al
legged superior right is his obliga-
tion to support his children" The
basis disappears when one consid-
ers what the mother gives to her
children in suffering, self-sacrihce and
devotion"
Since then the war has compelled
women to be both father and mother
to their children. In their heroic
efforts to release their husbands for
war service, and at the same time
to keep the home going for their
children, the women of to-day have
shown unprecedented fortitude.
Looking back over the first year
OF the war, the new fields of indus
try for women lie in the munition
factories. street cars and subways,
elevator operatives, farming in all
its branches. messenger service. and
in some parts of the country as
teamsters, chauffeurs and lumber
Jacks.
This would seem to dispose of that
venerable fallacy that all women were
more or less invalids, and if they
should happen to walk a couple Of
blocks to ballot box on election day
to deposit ballot dire results to their
health were apt to follow.
No More Sacred Sphere.
We hear no more from the reae-
tionaries OF woman's sacred sphere
being the home. On the contrary,
we are urged. IF you have a spark
of conscience or patriotism, get to
work; go out and do your Bit
A recent investigation as to con-
ditions, wages, etc, of women en-
ployed on the surface railroads in
New York City brought out the fact
that a number of them had asked
for might runs" as it left the day
free for other occupations. and wom-
en- conductors with children pleaded
that they preferred the might runs"
so that they might look after their
children, cook and wash tor them dur
ing the day.
1t is to be hoped that the enthu-
siasm of the woman recruit. in these
rev fields of endeavor. and her de-
sire not to be found wanting, may
not carry her too far on the road to
martyrdom. That she may learn to
temper industry with prudence and
work with rest.
And what of our heroic sisters in
France, working in munition factories
all day and taking fifteen minutes off
at regular intervals to nurse their
babiesl
For, curiously enough, the ereche,
or day nursery, seems to be part Of
every munition plant in France. The
French woman, formerly the symbol
OF everything that was dainty, finish
ed, feminine, has become q grimy
demon of work. as she labors 10 and
II hours daily, forging shells for the
destruction of the boche.
Without the unfagging industry of
the French women, our armies could |
never have stopped the headlong rush |
Of the Hun. All honor to their en-
iurance and skill
A friend of mine who lately made
our of inspection of the various
french munitions plants told me some
things of these daughters of
france, who perform their tasks witt.
IN acknowledgements efficiency that
S beautiful to see.
They are from all grades of society
women of the nobility. - have
ost fathers. brother and husband
nd who have a preference for this
erculean work that demands 50 much
/ leaves no time for heartache or
A Trying Ordeal.
There they work, shoulder to
houlder with strappins peasant ON