El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-12
Ratification by Tennessee
Ends Political Discrimi-
nation" Against Women.


ment when a joint resolution which
would have prohibited action Of any
kind on ratification was tabled by
viva voce vote
Chairman Riddick Of the house
! committee on constitutional conven-
| tons and amendments. 70 which was
referred the joint resolution provid-
ing for ratification, announced last
night that the lower branch OF the
Tennessee legislature would vote on
ratification Friday.
At the same time speaker Todd of
the senate stated that the upper
house also would act that day.
North Carolina in Plea.
Sixty-three Of the 40 members Of
/ the lower house Of the North Carolina
l legislature have sent a message to
the Tennessee legislature assuring
/ that body that North Carolina would
not ratify the federal suffrage
I amendment and asking that the
/ amendment be not forced upon the
people Of North Carolina by Tennes-
! see.
The war for woman's Independence
I began with some OF the revolutions
airy mothers $50 years ago.
It seems certain that II viii end To-
morrow in victory. The suffrage
leaders are taking it for granted
/ Alice Paul, chairman OF the ma
u
ways worked solely for the federal
amendment, when asked to comment
I on the occasion, said:
We have ended political discrimi-
nation against women. 1t Is the first
great step toward equality and al
ters the whole status OF women, but
the fight against discrimina ton in
other fields has only begun. With
the vote as a tool, the women of
America can forge for themselves a
place OF equal responsibility and
equal power with the men Of the na-
ton"
Things to Be Accomplished.
Among the Determinations still
existing against women. according TO
suffrage leaders, are:
/ In many states the father Is
the sole guardian OF the cifild during
his lifetime, and In a few states he
still has the right TO name by will
WhomsOever ne pleases as the guardi-
an after his DEATH thus having the
power TO will away the custody Of
even an unborn child IN other
states, while provision is made that
the surviving mother may be the
sole guardian if she remains a widow,
they do not take the guardianship
away from a widower upon his re-
marriage
2. IN a number Of states the
mother inherits nothing from the
estate OF a deceased child II the faith
sr is living
3. In states where there are no
equal guardianship laws, the mother
has no right TO share in the earn
ings Of minor children.
4. The husband has the exclu-
sive right 10 choose the domicile.
5. Women are eligible 10 only q
very few minor offices IN states
where they have had the right to
-
sary TO make them eligible IN some
states. even after they have the right
TO vote
s. Under the present civil service
law the heads OF departments can
select men for positions, regardless
Of the fact that women have made
higher marks in examinations ana
stand first on the lists.
Z. Women who marry aliens lose
their citizenship and right to vote.
while men who marry aliens are in
no way affected in their right or
franchise
s. IN some states women are not
eligible for jury service
The roots OF the suffrage struggle
in this country were laid IN revo-
lutionary times. Abigail Adams. the
wife OF John Adams threatened re-
bellion unless the rights OF women
were secured
AS matter OF AagAr III a II AAl-Al.
Of colonies, for instance. Virginia and
New Jersey. women did vote
Woman's Early Demands.
During the early days Of the re-
public's history there was no organ
lied suffrage agitation. Il was nor
until 1913 that the first woman
rights convention. ever held in the
country was called by Lucretia Mott
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton This
convention. the 72nd anniversary OF
vvhfch will be celebrated by the con-
veutfon Of the National woman
party, was the starting point OF the
real struggle for woman SURFACE
ton Of independence" which demand
ed equal rights in the universities
in the trades and professions; the
right TO vote: a share in all political
offices; complete equality IN mar
rage; the right OF married women
to personal freedom, property. wages
and children: the right TO make con-
tracts. 10 sue and be sued. and to
testify in courts OF Justice
II was this convention which IN
terssted Susan 3. Anthony, suffrage
pioneer and first suffrage lnlhtant.
in the struggle for -women's rights.
Miss Anthony was, from the very be-
Ginning. Interested mainly in secur-
ing the franchise through national
amendments. For number OF years
She sought an Interpretation OF the
14th and 18th amendments Whicn
would include women She went so
far IN her efforts as to vote at the
noIls in 1872 She was arrested Tor
81 doing. tried and fined, but never
Imprisoned. although she refused 10
pay her fine
Her sentence convinced her that
the only hope for women lay IN the
drafting Of a new amendment ana
she drew up in 1875 what passed con
gress in 1913 as the 18th amendment
to the constitution. It passed in ex-
thony drew It up;
United States 70 vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United
states or by any state on account OF
sex"
Leaders Keep Up Fight
After the first introduction OF the
amendment in 1878 It was not acted
upon until 1887, when the senate de-
feated Il by a two to one vote. After
this defeat suffrage agitation took
the form Of state campaigns under
the direction OF the National Ameri-
can Woman's Suffrage association
BY 1913 state suffrage had been grant
ed by nine states to their women, but
the federal amendment had dropped
completely out Of sight.
As far as the political eye could
discover national suffrage was as
dead as a door nail in 1913. when the
National Woman's party was organ
lied by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.
When Miss Paul came to Washing
ton. even suffragists predicted the
Il g.