Evening star., 1922-01-16
women PROTEST
. EQUAL. RIGHTS BILL
Declare Maryland Measure
Too Sweeping and Danger
GUS to Other Legislation.
srecial pispat,ch to The Star.

! Srecial Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE. January 16.-On the
ground that the equal rights for
women bill, introduced In the mary
land legislature at the instance OF
the Just Government League. is too
sweepinp in it's terms and might en-
| danger measures already In force or
pending in various states in favor OF
women in industry, national organl-
cations working for protective leg
| islation for working women are flood
! ing Maryland with literature protest
| ing against the proposed law.
| The National Women's Trade Union
League is appealing to various wom-
| ems organizations in the city ana
state to defeat the bill. 1t is believed
| that should the equal rights bill,
blanket measure corresponding to
National Woman's Party intends 20
put through Congress, be passed
i laws protecting women in industry
would be automatically repealed.
| Useless to Run Risk.
| That it Is useless to run the risk
of tampering with protective meas
ures. already in existence when the
equality of women could be secured
| in other ways is the argument of the
National Woman's Trade Union
League. the Consumers League. Bus
mess woman.s Club of the Young
| Women's Christian Association. Ma
tional League of Woman Voters ana
| other organizations.
| If the blanket measure Is passed in
the state the decision as to the In
ter probation of its terms would in
evitably have to pass to the United
States Supreme Court, according to
opinions of many lawyers.
The bill asks that women shall
have the same rights. privileges and
immunities under. the laws as man..
specifically with respect to freedom
Of contract" because of their disa-
bility on account Of sex, which max es
protection necessary for the good OF
the state and nation 1t is pointed out
Danger Pointed Out.
Further. according to J. H. Rails
ton of Washington. "the law which
now prevents woman from guaran-
teeing her husbands debt on any note
would go by board. because you pro-
pose to give them freedom of con-
tract.
This bill probably would destroy
all such laws as limitation of hours
work laws for women and providing
seats in stores for women" Mr.. Rails
ton continues in q letter concerning
the Maryland bill.
Greatest possible care in drafting
the bill should be taken. for passage
I
would be held liable civily or crimi-
nally for support of her hus-
band. in the opinion of M. Ralston.
! Even with the restrictive clause.
stating that the bill shall not apply
to women in industry tSection ~.
| lawyers are in doubt as to the opin-
ion Of the courts in the matter. A
difference of opinion among lawyers
on the subject indicates that there
is grave risk. 1t Is felt, in having
such a bill become law.
Cannot Jeopardise Standards.
| Miss Agnes Nestor. legislative
chairman OF the National Woman $
Trade Union League. in a public
| statement said:
Working women will 60 as far
as any women in working for actual
| citizenship and equal economic rights
with men We do not propose to
surrender tor jeopardize Industrial
standards already won and exchange
thirty yearG progress for possible
/ gain in some other direction which
can be obtahned in some other way.
Everything In the blanket bill can
be obtained In some other way with
out sacrificing the interest of work
ing women"
Mrs. Charles ]. Ogle OF the Just
Government League. defends the bill
and deciaref that the proviso that
the bill shqald not apply to indus
trial legisl3don protecting women is
sufile!sns sastfy. protect the women in in