The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-12-22


the wome nhad hoped. Under the pres
ent administration. however, two
women have ben place don the State
Board Of Charities and Corrections
and the whole management of these
institutions Is more In keeping with
the intentions fthe pioneers.
From the General Assembly Of 1898
they secured law making mandatory
the appointment Of women physicians
for the women's wards OF the state
asylums for the insane. The final pas
sage Of this bill was greatly facilitat-.
ed by the action Of Governor william
o. Bradley and the Senate Of 1916,
when. yielding to the petition of the
women Of Lexington, woman physi-
clan was placed upon the stan Of the
Western Asylum. Her excellent serv-
Ice went far to recommend the inno-
walton to the General Assembly Of
1898.
After 1894 these consecrated work.
ers publicly pressed the need Of a
dormitory for the young women of the
State University. The Nv. C. T. U.
Joined in this agitation. and in 1900
their legislative committee obtained
from the General Assembly an appro-
priation for this purpose The present
writer well remembers hearing the
then president fthe university refer
to this proposed home for the women
students as boarding house for fe-
males"
In 1893 these denoted women began
the work Of circulating petitions and
sending delegations to the General AS
sembly to have the "age of consent
raised from IL to IS years. At last
through the persuaisions of Mr.
George l.. Sehon, of the Kentucky
Childrens' Home Society, the General
Assembly In March, 1906, passed the
bill raising the age to 16 years. One
man was thought by these legislators
to know more about the protection
needed for girls than many mothers.
His argument was that large num-
Der, perhaps one-half, Of illegitimate
children are born of mothers under
sixteen years of age, and that children
born Of such mothers are apt to be-
come tax upon the state.
Not until 1910 were these indefatig-
able wome nable to obtain just
guardian and ward law, whereby mar
ried mothers with their husbands have
joint custody, nurture and education
of minor children; and equitable
provisions are made respecting the
rights Of both mother and father fer
appointing guardians in case of the
disability or death Of one or both par
ents. Prior to 1910 no Kentucky child
had but one legal parent. II 1t were
born in wedlock, that parent was the
father; II born out Of wedlock, the
only parent was the mother.
| In 1912 through the efforts of the
kentucky Federation Of Womens
Clubs women were granted schoo
suffrage, thus completing the worA
begun by the X. E. R. A. in the con
stitutional convention Of 1890.
Through the efforts Of various or
CARNATIONS of women a department o
domestic science and dean fwomel
atthe State University we're obtained
Through the joint efforts Of earnes
me nand women, youthful offenders II
Kentucky are confined separated.
from older criminals and tried in
Juvenile Court.
Kentucky enjoys at present an ex
cellent child labor law, passed large
ly through the efforts of women. Man
other beneficient, humane, educationa
and health measures have been passe
i by the diligent toll of women.
Weary with these years Of toll t
secure these Just laws by petition an
: suppliance, afted 1912, the X. e. R A
concentrated Its efforts excluisvel
: upon securing the ballot which
D through the established channels 9
representation, gives women voic
, in making the laws they are compelle
: to obey and sustain with their taxes.
3 II so long record Of achievement
| could be made without the ballot, ho'
! much of promise is given to wome
. through the exercise Of the full right
I and powers of citizens and how grea
i 1.-THE responsibility for its faithful us'
The pioneers did a great work. Blu
: there remaineth yet much land to b
: possessed" Our public schools, pub
. lie health, concentrated amuse
: ments need the devoted and consecrat
ed heart. head and hand Of womer
3 The schools Of reform for boys an
: for girls are for from what they wer
: designed to be, and far below tn
I standards In many states. Our Juvs
r nile Court laws need amendment an
better enforcement
We need detention rooms other tina
: the county Jail for juvenile offender
We need women police matrons, an
: women probation officers, q woman In
: vestigator In the prosecuting attoI
n lney's once, woman physician 10 %
0 cure expert testimony In casts Of VIC
lation o fthe chastity Of girls an
.erSa1f i