The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-02-25
.WOMAN'S PARTY
AIMS EXPLAINED
Body Only Seeking Rights of
New Voters, Says State
Head.

Woman's Party and history of mi
litant" events were given by Mrs. ].
d. Wilkinson of Shreveport, presi-
dent of the Louisiana branch of the
party, and Miss LaVinia Egan, Lou
isiana's representative in the nation
al advisory council, at meeting of
women in the Grunewald Hotel Mon
day afternoon. Mrs. Eleanor G. Gra-
ham, chairman of the New Orleans
organization, presided.
Miss Egan and Mrs. Wilkinson are
touring Southern Louisiana in the
interest of the, party.
The organization is a party in
name only" declared Miss Egan.
There has never been any idea of
running a woman's ticket any more
than red-headed men would club to-
gether to elect red-headed men. !
am Democrat and a member of the
League Of Women Voters. We do
not clash with either, or with any
ing for no candidate, but are engaged
in the securing of women's rights.
We are giving every state an oppor-
tunity to raise the legal and civil
status of women to that Of men,"
PICKETING EXPLAINED.
Miss Egan explained the so-called
militant action taken by the party.
Peaceful picketing, she said, had
been made legal one week before
their demonstration at the White
House occurred. The women filed
slowly about the building, carrying
banners but neither halting nor talk
ing to those who went in and out.
After police protection had been re-
moved she said, hoodlums made war
upon them. The next day they were
jailed and months later the Supreme
Court held that they had been IL
legally imprisoned.
The code Napoleon has dwarfed
public opinion for years" declared
Mrs. Wilkinson in discussing Louis
lana laws. I'm Louisiana we did get
one equal rights law last year-that
was the bona fide homestead law pro-
hibiting the husband from selling
the homestead without the signature
of his wife. We have many poor
laws. For instance, the contract,
inheritance and property disposal
laws. A woman valves her rights
when she marries, to many things"
The equal rights bill will be in
troduced in the state Legislature at
it's next session, Mrs. Wilkinson said.
Fern Wood of Vernon parish will
introduce it in the Senate and ar
rangements have also been made for
it's introduction into the House.
Whether it comes through the
state or by national constitution a.
mendment," Mrs. Wilkinson stated,
''it's coming through as sure as the
sun Shines"
RIGHTS UNDER BILL
The bill would grant the follow
ing rights and privileges to Louisia-
ma women:-
The right to hold any public Of
flee or position, local or state, or any
position for which governmental
funds or subsidies are used.
The choice of voting domicile.
The right to acquire, control, hold
and convey property.
The right to own and control la
Dor, services and earnings within and
outside the home and the power to
recover damages for the loss of such
! labor, services or earnings.
The freedom to make contracts and
to become party to any negotiable
instrument or evidence of indebted
less -or to become surety or guaran-
tor.
The right to become a party to IL
tigation.
The custody and control of child
rem and their earnings and services
Immunity from enforced examina-
tion, quarantine or treatment for
sex diseases.
Freedom from disabilities on ac-
count of marriage unless they apply
to both sexes.
Mrs. Wilkinson and Miss Egan
have been on a speaking tour thru
out the state and arrived in New Or
leans Sunday morning. Both are
past presidents of the State Fedora
tion of Women's Clubs.