The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-14
Jap SAYS SECRETARY HUGHES HAS CLARIFIED SITUAI7O
EQUAL RIGHTS ARE NOT EQUl
WOMEN DEMAND NEW LAWS! 81
Inequalities Are Greatest in
louisiana" Says a Leader
of National WOman's
Party.
BY MRS. JOHN D. WILKINSON
Chairman Louisiana Branch National
Woman's Party.


BATON ROUGE, La, Nov. 10
where women have the same political
legal and civil rights as men. This
state is Wisconsin, the first in the
union to ratify the nineteenth amend
ment which granted suffrage to women
and which, on June21, 1921, took the
Initiative in passing the woman's bill
of rights by which women are made
equal with men under the law.
In every other state, determinations
against women exist, the inequalities
of the laws Of Louisiana being. in this
regard, most marked and excessive.
Briefly summarized, women in Lou
isiana have not the same rights, priv
ileges and immunities under the laws
as men with respect to the following:
Freedom of contract: the admins
tration. investment and enjoyment OF
community property; choice OF doni-
eile and residence; acquiring, controll-
ing, holding and conveying property;
making and receiving donations; care
and custody Of children and control of
earnings and services OF such children;
immunities and penalties for sex Of
treatment of diseases.
Hits Married Women
One article of the revised civic code
states "All persons have the capacity
to contract. except those whose inca
pacity is specially declared by law
These are persons of insane mind,
those who are interdicted, minors and
married women
1t would seem that women, no matter
how intelligent and capable, become
helpless and ignorant upon marriage. /
Another article reads: a married
woman has no other domicile than
that Of her husband" and another.
THE wife is bound to live with her
husband and to follow him wherever
he chooses to reside
The court has ruled that even when, I
by the marriage contract. the wife has
provided the domicile and the husbandi i
accepts it, and he removes to distant /
place, establishing a residence at an
hotel or boarding house, such a resi-
dence becomes the legal domicile of
the wife, though she may never have
It or even be aware of her
husbands whereabouts.
With regard to the guardianship of
the inequalities OF the law are
most pronounced. In the code a child
under the authority Of his
father and mother until his majority
or emancipation. In case OF difference
between the parents, the authority of
the father prevails
There are no laws upon our statuteh
books that so clearly exemplify the dis
abilities and determinations against I
women as those affecting the comrnu-
nifty property-the property which has
been acquired after marriage by the
Joint efforts Of both husband and wife
Husband Master.
The revised code declares. "The hus-f
band Is the head and master OF tho
gains: he administers it's
effects. disposes Of the revenues which
they produce, and may ALLEVIATE them
by an onerous title without the con-
sent or permission OF his wife"
Until the husband and wife are re.
garded as equal partners in the admin
lstration, disposition and alienation OF
property, with the sigma
tures Of both attached to the sale Of
such property then men and women
are not equals.
AS q remedy for these and all other
injustices with regard to women at
present existing in the laws OF Louis
lana, the Louisiana branch of the Ma
tional Woman's party will ask the leg
stature naat spring to pass a blanket!
bill under which women shall have the
same rights immunities and privileges
as men.