New-York tribune., 1921-03-02
State Bill for
Women .Jpll'ies
Is Unopposed
Many Appear i'll Support of
Donohue Act at Hearing
i'll Albany; Sheriff Knott
Heads Big Delegation
Ankle Screen Opposed
Don't Need Them, Says Club
Leader, Who is Against
All Special Privileges
rron. q stoG corrcspondcn,

ALBANY, March 1.-~Various reasons
serve as jurors were advanced here to-
day at the hearing on the Donohuc bill
giving women the right to sit on jurics.
No opposition to the bill developed.
Numerous womcn's organizations had
representatives at the hearing.
Miss Mary Wood, speaking for the
State Federation of Womcn's Clubs, of
which she is chairman, said that women
have demonstrated their fitness for
jury duty in other states, and declared
that the women Of this state ask the
same privilege without any special con-
cessions. She said that "ankle cur
tains" such as are used in Ohio courts
where women serve as jurors will not
be demanded by !Sew York State wom-
Ell if they arc called for jury duty.
"ln Ohio they have curtains around
the jury boxes" she said. Eve do not
care for that curtain in New York"
Sheriff Knott Leads Delegation
David II. Knott, Sheriff Of New York
County, who is the author of the bill,
led the delegation of women which
came to Albany to urge favorable ac-
tion upon the measure.
eve need women,' said Sheriff
Knott, "to ill the vacant gaps in our
jury panels. | am firmly convinced
that women will make conscientious
jurors and serve with credit to them
selves and the cause of justice"
The Sheriff said he would favor an
amendment to the bill which would
prompt sheriffs and commissioners of
jurors to excuse mothers of small chill
dren and housewives from jury duty.
Mrs. James W. Loeb, of New York
said that mixed juries would help ir
better understanding of cases in
Volving social questions and would
materially aid in the process of the
big sister" movement.
"As it is now" she contended, "only
one side is represented upon the juries.
It is absurd to say that jury duty
would interfere with woman's home
duties. Women Go not remain at home
all the time. 1t would be a poor house
keeper who could not arrange her af-
do jury duty. Men can leave their
business to serve as jurors and still
the business seems to run along"
Rourke Complains About Juries
Alexander Rourke, former Assistant
District Attorney of New York County,
said that women are needed for jury
duty. He complained that because of
diversity of exemptions upon which
men may be excused from jury duty it
Is difficult to get competent juries
Among twelve men picked for jury
duty, he said, it is usual to find eight
or nine who cannot speak OF under
stand English.
Miss NJ. Louise Gross, president of
the White Plains Democratic Associa-
ton, said that there are three reasons
why women should serve as Jurors.
First. because they would serve them
selves; second, because they would
serve the courts, and, third because
they would serve the best interest Of
the state
Jury duty was characterized by Mrs
Lillian Sire, speaking for the Womens
Democratic League, as a sacred func-
ton Of citizenship and one which
women would hold in reverent esteem
Miss Catherine II. Starbuck, repre-
scnting the League Of Women Voters,
said her organization favors the bill.
Pauline Field president of the Grim
inal Bar Association, of New York, also
spoke for the bin.