Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-09-28
SUFFRAGE AND DISCRIMINATION


larly stimulating to national pride Indeed, it is
rather check to ones sense of liberty to be re-
minded, for example, that it is still possible in
the United States of America for fathers, if they
elect to will away children from the mothers;
that married woman's services and her earnings
! belong to her husband; that married women are
classed with children and the insane as unable
to contract on their own responsibility; and that
married woman may not choose her legal resi-
dence for voting or taxation, or say of whom the
family circle shall consist. Yet, in every state
but one, there remain on the statute books some
such discriminative shadows of the chattel slav-
cry days. That these laws have fallen into disuse
does not excuse their continuance.
Only the artless indeed, could have imagined
that the ratification of the National Suffrage
Amendment to the Federal Constitution, in 1920,
brought to women equality with men under the
law. The better informed recognized in this
amendment but one step in the evolution toward
that goal. AS matter of fact, American women
are yet face to face with many legal discrmina-
tions, just as were the English women at the end
of their suffrage campaign&and in every state but
one their citizenship is lame.
1t is now more than year since the Equal
Rights Bill was passed in Wisconsin, giving to
women equal rights with men in every respect.
There has been sufficient time and opportunity to
to observe the effect of the law in actual opera
ton. 1t is significant that, while general salts
faction with the law is felt throughout the state,
there has been no intimation from any quarter
that it has had the effect of multiplying any spec
ia legislation enacted in the interests of women
workers. This fact need not be surprising when
it is considered that such protective laws not
enacted exclusively for the benefit of women
workers, but for the good of mankind and as
such they will doubtless persist.
The Womans Party, to whose efforts the
successful passage of the Wisconsin Womans
Rights Bill was largely due, has launched cam
paign with the aim of removing all legal discrim-
nations against women In order to secure the
necessary basis of information, committee of
ten women lawyers has for some time been MAX
ing extensive study of all national and state
laws bearing upon the status of women. 1t is the
expectation that this work will be completed by
the time Congress opens in December, so that
there may be in hand the needed information for
the drafting of legislation to be introduced in
Congress and also in the state legislatures when
they convene.
With the commendable example of Wisconsin
before them, it would seem as it the other states
might we'll urge passage of blanket bills" &C
cording to the requirements of their various con-
situations, in order that this unevasible question
of equal rights for all citizens may be settled once
and for all. The Womans Party is doing it's part
in rousing a countrywide interest in the equal
rights question. The information concerning the
discriminative laws in the various states which
it is issuing in pamhlet form should be of interest
to everyone who has at heart the securing for
the women of the whole Nation of the rights that
have been won in Wisconsin.
More of the educational processes by which
women and men are acquainted with the existing
laws may arouse them to insist
that no antiquated statutes shall be allowed to
linger. When women more universally refuse to
think inferiority" and when they prepare them
selves to take an equal part in affairs, they will
help more thoroughly to eliminate the so-called
'inferiority complex" which still seems to trail
through some legislative opinions concerning the
position of women. Anne Martin, recently writ
ing in The Woman Citizen, wisely declares that
our institutions twill be humanized when women
them, as judges apply them as jurors render YER
diets. Since equality means half-part activity, it
is obvious that women have before them the in
evitable task of demonstrating, through prepara-
ton and participation, just have also the men,
the simple and fundamental truth of equality.
Then only will end the ancient and ludicrous SUI
perstition concerning the inferiority of women
Christian Science Monitor.
Barber shops around Wausau are filled with
humorists. A leading citizen of Wausau among
the younger generation has 'raised a moustache".
He heard it called pretty piece of embroidery"
the other day. In the chair next to him was a
friend, who was having his six months growth
cut off. Say you've got a head like Henry Clay
said friend "Yes-ful of clay" added another.
Speaking about brightness the astronomers
verified the Einsten theory the other day by find
ing ray of light penetrating the suns exclusive
sphere of influence that proved to be 100000, 900
miles in length. BY few odd miles this figure is
estimated correct
If all people could throw off responsibilities
as easily as worries seem to pass over the head
of the public, why is it that umbrellas are still
necessary? The exterior of most peoples faces is