The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-17
Drastic Paternity Bill Throws
a Burden on Men.
Dangerous Measure for Illegal
Operations Here.
"GIVE WOMAN HER DAY"
Real Plea for Disgraced Moth
ers Before Committee.
DIR. Crumbine and State Officers
in Favor of Bill.

If outside influence and expert tes-
timony have any bearing on the Kan
sas legislature, Doctor De Vilbiss and
state board of health expect to use
them in pushing the paternity bill
that has been introduced in the sen-
ate by Senator Kimball and in the
house by the child hygiene committee.
This morning a hearing was held by
the judiciary committee of the house
at which DIR. S. j. Crumbine, Mrs.
Lila Day Monroe and others made
pleas for its passage and a similar
hearing will be sought before the SEN
ate judiciary committee.
In his talk to the house committee.
Doctor Crumbine emphasized the
medical aspects of the bill and as
serted that its passage not only would
tend to wipe out the criminal opera
tions that are being practiced all over
the state, but also would have great
moral influence upon every COM
munity.
Doctor Crumbine spoke in the high
est terms of the bill, stating that he
has seen no measure that equals it
in any state. He made the assertion
that in every community in the state
there is more or less criminal oper-
ating practiced by unscrupulous doc
tors and that where doctors fail to
perform illegal operations, the girls
who are in trouble often attempt to
perform their own operations. He be-
lieves that the proposed paternity bill
would practically do away with this
and would eliminate prenatal muir
ders that he says are now common
in Kansas
Mrs. Monroe in Plea.
Mrs. Monroe characterized the pro-
posed law as intended to give a W man
her day in court an1 said:
The murderer may come into court
with every assumption of innocence-be-
fore the law his hands are clean. for the
law says he is Innocent until he is proven
guilty. Every effort is made to safeguard
his reputation. Newspapers may not re-
fer to him except as is alleged And when
! he is pardoned out by a tender hearted
that his wise and beneficient counsel may
not be missed in affairs of state. He who
has taken human life must have every
| chance for his own life.
But she who has given human life comes
| into court with not only a full and free
confession. but brings the living pledge
/ of her guilt-she comes not to defend her
good name. for she has none-not to de-
/ to ask for damages. for she has been CON
/ vinced that such she has no stand
! ing and that in truth no damage could be
"She comes under our double standard
I with the knowledge that she is n social
! pariah. To other women she is n moral
leper-they draw away from her in horror
so she must tell her troubles to men. Be
(, fore the court she occupies the position OF
/ a known culprit who is trying to swear the
offense on some one else. Her word is
I doubted-who could believe a wanton crea
| ture: She is subject to insult. intimida
! tion and exploitation. Under the present
| law the man is encouraged to further de-
! grade her His defense is that she sold
herself for money--that she is simply 4
pO ~ q q n
/ more guilty than others. She is helpless
/! hopeless and ignorant-all of her educa-
! her. As object of charity, she throws
! herself upon the mercy of the court and
asks a mere subsistence for herself and
child; Can you picture her-sorrowful
| brOwbeaten and terroriZed Mt the prospect
of trying to make n living for two when
Have 1 made my one point? Can you
! picture this common scene and then say
! that this unwedded mother can. under oul
present law. under her present status. have
! her day in court? No one can have his
day in court who has it not first in the
J law must define his status and demand
| that it be recognized.
| Says Law Constitutional.
| Judge Hawkes. of the attorney gen.
| erals office told the house committee
that the law would stand the testa OF
the courts and Mrs. Virginia Kimball
state superintendent of nurses. told OF
| her experiences with girls who need
ed a law that would give them the
right to demand the father give
their child his name and support. A
| letter from Lieut.. Gov. Charles S
Huffman, chairman of the children's
! code committee, and another letter
| from State Manager Kimball were
read favoring the proposed law. Huff
man stated that his committee had
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