The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-06-29
Bv MRS. FRANK PUTNAM.

By MRS. FRANK PUTNAM.
This month marks, the first birthday
of Wisconsin women's complete eman-
cipation from the inhibitions imposed
by the old common law, which made
of women and still makes of them in
other states, semi-serfs, vassals and
ineompetents,
AS trail blazers and pioneers in the
great work of women's legal liberation,
we women of Wisconsin believe the
equal rights law will go far toward
eliminating the double moral standard.
The adoption of equal suffrage
placed in women's hands a weapon
with which they can and will within
few years gain full personal liberty
Equal rights for women as granted
in this first woman's bill of rights, pre-
serve all protective legislation hither-
to enacted for women in industry and
eventually will be adopted in other
states,
Probably women, generally do not re-
alize how greatly they are discrimin-
ated against by many of the laws now
Ql lhG SkaLuNG bOOA9'
Duties of Citizenship.
Women, now charged with the du-
ties and responsibilities of citizenship
equally with men, should everywhere
regard it as intolerable that they be
any longer denied The rights Of eiti-
zenship equally with men,
Equal rights, such as we have in
Wisconsin, grant women the same
privileges and immunities as men with
respect to: ~
Exercise of suffrage.
Holding of public Office.
Eligibility for civil service positions.
Freedom Of contract, meaning bust
ness freedom.
Choice of domicile, residence and
name. .
Jury service.
Control of earnings.
Acquiring, controlling, holding and
conveying Of property.
Care and custody Of Children wheth-
er legitimate or illegitimate.
Control of earnings and services of
children
Acting as administrators of estates,
Seeking divorce,
Filing law suits on their own be-
half; not through Their husbands.
Immunities or penalties for sex Of
lenses.
In many states some or most of
these rights are enjoyed by women;
but not ali Of them.
SO long as woman continues to be
held in a position of inferiority with
regard to the control of her person
and property, her citizenship is ira
vesty, not fact.
Law Adopted in Wisconsin.
The best course for women of Wis
consin to pursue in obtaining equal
rights laws, is through blanket legis-
lation, and not the tedious correction
of multiplicity of statutes.
Here is how the Wisconsin equal
rights law reads
SECTION /. Women shall have the
same rights and privileges under the
law as men in the exercise Of suffrage,
freedom of contract, choice of resi-
dence for voting purpose jury service,
holding office, holding and conveying
property, care and custody of children
and in all other respects.
"The various courts, executive and
administrative officers, shall construe
the statutes where the masculine gem
der is used to- include the feminine
gender unless such construction will
deny to females the special protection
and privileges which they now enjoy
for the general welfare.
"The courts, executive and admins
trative officers shall make all neces-
sary rules and provisions to carry out
the intent and purposes of this
statute.
SECTION 2. Any woman drawn to
serve rs juror, upon her request to
the presiding judge or magistrate be-
fore the commencement Of the trial or
hearing, shall be excused from the
panel or venire."
The National Woman's Party is di-
reeting several state campaigns from
its Washington headquarters and needs
and Is ready to utilize effectively all
theeaid women everywhere can. give.
Under the nineteenth amendment the
women of America are only half free,
half vassaE
This campaign to complete the
granting of equal rights for women
cannot end until women are wholly