The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-07-14
Women of Wisconsin
Given Equal Rights
GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED
fWOMAN'S RIGHTS BILL
Wisconsin is the First State i'm
The Union to Grant Equal
Rights to the Women.

MADlSON, Wis, July IL, 1921.--
When Governor Blaine today signed
the women's rights bill, Wisconsin
became the first state in the Union
where women have equal rights with
men under the civil laws.
The Governor signed the historic
bill, in the presence of women from
several parts Of the state, with a
black quill pen supplied by the Ma
tional Woman's Party This pen,
and copy of the new law, are to
be sent to the headquarters of the
National Woman's Party in Wash
ington, D. c., as mementoes of the
first victory won by American wo-
men in their nationwide campaign
for equal civil rights.
Here is the text of the new law:
"To create new section 6015 of
the statutes to remove discrimina-
tions against women and to give
them equal rights before the law.
"The people of the state Of Wis
consin, represented in senate and
assembly, do enact as follows:
"Section /. A new section is add
ed to the statutes to read:
"6.015 Women shall have the
same rights and privileges under the
law as men in the exercise Of suff-
rage, freedom of contract, choice of
residence for voting purposes, jury
service, holding Office, holding and
conveying property care and custody
of children and in all other respects.
The various courts, executive and adj
ministrative officers shall construe
the statutes where the masculine
gender is used to include the fem
inine gerder unless such construc-
ton will deny to females the special
protection and privileges which they
now enjoy for the general welfare.
The courts, executive and admintra-
tive officers shall make all necessary
rules and provisions to carry out
the intent and purposes of this
statute. ttt
"Section 2. Any woman drawn to
serve as a juror upon her request to
the presiding Judge or magistrate,
before the commencement of the
trial or hearing, shall be excused
from the panel or venire.
Section 8. This act shall take
effect upon passage and publication"
Mrs. Frank Putnam of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, chairman National Wo-
mans Party, who organized and led
Wisconsin women in support of the
new law, made the following state
ment for publication:
"With Governor Blaine's signature
on this bill the Republican party of
Wisconsin redeemeh the pledge
which it made to the women of
Wisconsin in the campaign of 1920.
The Republican party had votes
enough in senate and assembly to
pass the bill, and supplied votes
enough to pass it. Yet we are
equally grateful to the Socialist as
semblymen, all of whom voted for ii,
although oddly enough, none, of the
four Socialist senator's voted for it;
two of them were absent when the
final vote was taken ,and the two
who were present voted with the
Republican minority to amend the
bill in such form that it would not
have been acceptable. to women, and
at time any amendment would
have meant it's entire defeat for the
session. Of the two Democratic
senator's, one was absent when the
vote was taken; the other voted
against us. We think it fair to re-
mind the women of Wisconsin that
the inclusion Of an equal rights
plank in the Republican state plat
form of 1920 was due to the efforts
of Governor Blaine, and that ne has
throughout our campaign been ac-
lively in sympathy with US.