The St. Mary banner., 1922-04-29
WHAT THE WOMAN'S BILL OF
RIGHTS PROPOSES.

BY Lavinia H. Egan, of Shreveport
Member National Council Nation
al Woman's Party.
The Louisiana Branch of the Wo-
mans Party is state organization
and while only four months old, it
is composed of $40 members repres-
enting every Parish and including
the leading women in every locality.
Mrs. John D. Wilkinson, of Shreve-
port, former president of the State
Federation Of Women's Clubs is the
Chairman
The Louisiana Branch is an inte-
grail part of the National Organize
ton, which has its headquarters at
% First ST., N. E., Washington, D.
c., just as the State Federation of
Clubs is part Of the General Fed
Grafton, or as the State League OF
Women Voters is a part of the Ma
tional League. All of the officers and
members of the Louisiana Branch of
the Woman's Party are Louisiana
women. In working to give to wo-
men citizens of Louisiana the same
legal and civil rights that men citi-
zens enjoy, they feel that they are
working for the best interest of the
State. That one portion of the group
of citizens should be so discriminat-
ed against as not to be able to per-
form the full duties and assume the
full responsibilities, of citizenship
does not make for enlightened de-
mocracy nor does it make for pro-
gress.
The Nineteenth Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States
cnanged no law except the one which
prohibited women from casting the
vote, and even now that women have
the right of suffrage, there still re-
main In our Civil Code many laws
affecting women's interest which
discriminate against them so as to
prevent their exercising full rights
and privileges as citizens. Not only
are these laws unjust and unfair,
but the determinations they establ
ish engender psychology of in
ferlority that affects every interest
and every activity of a woman's
llfe.' The woman in the business
world meets this discrimination at |
every turn; the woman teacher in
louisiana receives from the school
funds. which are made up by pener-
Al taxation Of men and women alike.
! salary ranging from $500 to-
5l,050 year less than a man teach
sr doing the same identical work,
While the so-called protected woman
n the home is hedged about by the
avs, limitations and injustices
The louisiana Branch of the Ma
ional Woman's Party is not attemp-
ing anything revolutionary; it is
attempting much-needed reform bv
direct method which will effect an
evolution. 1t is not leading an anti
ran crusade. 1t is not asking SINH
arity; it is only asking equality of
opportunity. It is not asking that a
be allowed to retain her own
lame after marriage. Every womani
las this right, since there is no law
n any state compelling her to take
er husbands name. It is merely the
ustom that she does so-a very good
ustom which has been departed from
y many splendid women who have
1ade a name for themselves in a
usiness or professional way. The
Vomsn's Party is asking only that
sgal determinations against women !
e removed. There is no discrimina-
ion against women in this regard. !
. that even by implication, the right |
a woman to retain her name aft Z
marriage is not one Of the things :
sked for in the bill.
Most emphatically, the bill will in j /
o way affect welfare legislation for
omen. To guard against such posi- | t
|e Interpretation, one. section ofI
'e bill will read as follows:
Nothing in this act shall be TAX n
!, intended or construed as affect i
g, changing or abrogating in snyl
anner any laws now existing OIL
hIch may hereafter be passed re-
nlating the employment Of women I
industry or in industrial enter
rises"
The blu viii not touch in any vayl L
y matter ot women serving al I