The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-04

.-Our traditions d what . Va. Ii
ans limitations should b." accord.
inx to Nise Hill. date from a. &
llth century when the common ~
MAS recognised In England. M i
decided that woman was inferior =
man, ana society has been guided = 4
the decision ever since.
even after the American coa.
ouies broke away from England. tn
states held to the tradition Of ~ 4
inferiority OF women, and cnly
where . state has modified soms
particular point, have We departs
from It
Laws Not Consistent.
~Some states have recognized
women's ability in some mattera
other states have made concessious
along entirely different lines. Te
tako one instance, New York gaye
married women property rights in
1S4S, and the majority Of the statse
have followed suit.
these changes show that TIA
common law ID not the infallihls
Guide It was taken for. II woman
IL capable of managing her prop
efty In one state, why should
woman Of another state be less com
petent! And il a mother Of an H.
legitimate child is made by Law
solely responsible for her child, WHY
should the married mother have, NO
legal control at all over hers?
To bring these illogical laws nm
to consistent intelligent standard
/ would be q reasonable step, Miss
Hill thinks. A general law giving
women equal rights with men would
result at first in great many test
casts before the courts, as there
would be technicalities to clear up.
But the advocates of the bill see no
reason to fear that there would bs
! any real confusion.
i There are two points on which
the feminists depart slightly from
their standard for strict equality
First, they do not ask that women
replace men in work for which they
are not physically suited. For in
stance. while they demand an equal
opportunity for women in civil gov
eminent, they do not ask that girls
be sent to West Point or given Z
chance to enlist in the army or
navy.
4 The second point is that the bill
| is to contain provision that it is
not to affect existing laws for the
protection of women in industry.
To fight its battle for rights most
efficiently, the National Woman's
party is to set up its standard
across the street from the capitol.
SO that it can keep a wary eye on
} every doubtful congressman.
j The house that the party has
bought Is one Of Washington's old
est and most distinguished man.
sions known as the Back Capitol.
1t is an attractive white stone build
ing set on a high terrace. Its his
tory dates back to 1914, when the
capitol had been wrecked by the
British and congress had no place
to meet. Philadelphia was calling
insistently to congress to come and
; make its home there. But Washing
ton had no intention of risking a
change in the national capital. A
group of citizens hastily organized
and built a house back Of the cap
| itol as temporary home for con-
. gress.
:, This capitol was used as a meet
! ing place by congress for four
years, during which time Monroe
, was inaugurated there as pres
ident. The congress went back to
/ the renovated capitol building and
, the mansion became hotel.
/ During the Civil war. the Back
Capitol was converted into a federal
: prison where Confederate suspects
! were held. Since then it has served
, as residence for such we'll known
, people as John C. Calhoun, Anna
: Catherine Greene, and for a mum.
Der Of congressman.
y Now, the old mansion is to entel
, upon an entirely new phase Of its
/ varied career AS watch tower fol-
: band of political Amazons it viii
doubtless look upon scenes al
; stirring as any in its century o
dramatic history.