Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-11
Woman Opposes
Maternity Bill
by Frederic ,. Hsskin

Washington, Aug. fisM Miss Alice
Robertson. who has had the spotlight
Of public opinion turned In her direc-
tion almost continuously since her
election as an Oklahoma Hepresenta
tive 10 Congress, II becoming the
stand which she nts taken opposing
lcynos1re Of all eyer because OF the
passage Of the Maternity bin for
which womens suffrage organizations
aiI over the country have been fighting
vigorously.
This bill provides that two million
dollars be appropriated by the Federal
government for the first year, and a
like sum be provided by the states.
the exact amount apporttoned accord
Ing 10 population, to pay public health
nurses 70 instruct mothers In hygiene
and the care OF infants, 20 establish
consultation centres. and to cover the
expenses Of medical and nursing care
for mothers and children, 81 home or
in hospitals. The exact use u the
propoa4d fund would rest largely with
Federal and state officials.
says Bin Is too Indefinite.
Miss Robertson's specific objection
to the Sheppard Tovner bill is that
nothing definite is promised in it..
There is much talk Of sums Of money
to be get aside FOR the public pro-
lection Of maternity and infancy and
providing method OF cooperation
between the government OF the United
States and the several sAtes." but
no distinct statement as 10 when and
where such appropriations shall be
actually used. All practical develop
ment Of such protection is left
rather vaguely TO the Children's Bu-
reau Of the Labor Department and the
Child Hygiene Division Of the State
Boards Of Health.
@If the bill Is passed" said Miss
Robertson, the state Of affairs with
small organizations now handling such
work will be as IL was with the
wornen's knitting societies when tn"
war stopped. All the good work that
/ is now being done through many
channels will be stopped. Conditions
/ win bc worse than before the bill was
passed because nothing viii be actually
started BY the passage Of this meas
ure and everybody will be contented,
believing that everything will now be
cared for"
jects 50 strenuousiy to the Sheppard
Towner bin is because she feels It
to be exceedingly paternaIis1ic in its
intent. In this connection, she says
70 the woman voter.
III, in your judgment, this legis-
iation Is unnecessary for the reason
that the family. the community, the
municipality and the state, under
standing local conditions, can care
for their own without national man
date. write your Congressman and say
So" And she does not believe in fore
Ing people 10 20 10 churck- as proposed
in the ch-discu-aed Blue Laws, 50
tco, the Lsdy From Oklahoma does
not believe in Federal supervision Of
maternity problems
In statement warning the women
all over the country To read and con-
slider well the latent as well as the
more obvious possibilities suggested
by this bill, Miss Robertson says.
Sex Legislation.
Remember, the pclitisal women
who are supporting this bill. wish
/ ing the first test Of their power in
/ legislation to be a master stroke,
have used the most touching and ir-
resistabie appeal that could be paced
before a BODY oS American men.
Mothers Of America. is this an in
! sidious attempt 10 secure most dan
gerous class legislation-the leglsia-
I ton of sex?
Il oppose this bill. basing my action
upon the belief that my sister women
have not been fairly dealt with, that
even to the greathearted- sympathetic
President, It has been claimed that
the mothers want II and ask for it.
when the vast majority know nothing
OF it,
Miss Robertson, descendant Of ten
generations of preachers of the Cos
pei. who has herself cared for Indian
orphans and children OF illegstifnats
parentage to make Of them good
clean citizens. does not speak SC
forcibly on this bill which has passed
the Senate and is pending action in
the House. without having first
/ thoroughly investigated the matter.
II have consulted many Of my col
leagues" said Miss Robertson in hel
drawing, easy speech, and have
found only one who said he had
actually read the bill through. He
said he was going 70 vote for il be-
cause he had no intention Of being
erucified back home. I am now
sending inquiries 10 women ali over
the country TO see il they have read
the bill and know what it means.
Miss Robertson suggested that i
might seem to a layman as though tbs
bill was framed to eyade the under
standing of lawyers, and the lawyers
on the committee which had the bill
+ especially under discussion were