The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-26


 The leaders are encouraged at the outset of this second crusade by the enterprise of Wisconsin women In op- taining within the last few days the l passage of a bill removing discrim- nations against women in a whole sale manner. This is the first time in the history of the United States they say, when men and women have been equal under the common law Tn any state.
 So Congress Is now faced with an other campaign started along the lines followed in the suffrage light, with a constitutional amendment as the goal, In each state this "pill or ] rights" Legislation is to be intro , duced so that progress can be mace , without waiting for the federal amendment.
 I-- New Move.
 But opposition to this new move IS expected and preparations to combat 1t are on foot. Some of those who were luke warm to the constitutlonal amendment enfranchising woman and who voted for it as an expedlency, will now argue, the leaders admit, that after the ballot which gained there was nothing within reason that the women needed to ask for, that I rights" will come with the franchise, and anything further naturally would be a matter of evolution and educa- tion rather than revolution. But the suffragists whose tactics have been demonstrated on Capitol hill time and again as more successful than de- mure, have now framed a programme 1 of attack, campaign and argument to prove that the ballot was the mere first step and that American women are still fettered in their :1s, lo.@ 1fx 11ot ta try holds. When this bill is intro- < duced it was proposed as the twen tieth amendment to the constitution. The woman leaders are now trying to have it so worded that 1t will cover all the contingencies and yet be a simple amendment, which will fol- low the prohibition and suffrage amendments without adding maze l of complexity. This involves task for the male experts at work on it for the "bill of rights In its tentative form, in order to meet the grievances now nursed by the many factions ] and groups In the movement, must somehow cover about eighteen par ticulars all explanatory of the gener- al statement that "equal rights with l men shaii not be denied or abridged l to women on account of sex or mar riage by the, United States or by any state or territory, subject to the 5u- risdiction of the United States. A Simple Form.
 This is the simple form now In mind, but the bill of particulars which the amendment is desired to cover is inclusive of a long list of objections. The suffragists want all restrictions removed from jury ser vice; from homesteading or holding claims; from holding any public of- flee or civil position The grievances of the equal pay for equal work" group are included in the list. Grounds for divorce, the women want equalized; guardianship or con- trol of children; responsibility of parents for illegitimate children; control. disposition or acquisition of property, they want simplified for | women, as well as full legal control Of earnings and what Is more start l ling to the conservatives,", represen- tation in every grade of service, ex- cept military or naval, maintained in whole or- in part by public monies, thus braving again the retort of the old anti suffragists who cried out in l the last that if women were to have 1 the privilege of the ballot they ought 10 accept the responsibilities for mil itary and naval duties, trudging the l road or scrubbing down decks.