The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-01-27

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ticle shall be construed
abrogatng In every
respect the common law ~
disabilities OF women. ~
"Secon 8. This act
shall not affect laws NEE -
regulating the employ ~
ment of women In In 49,
dustry.
Section 4. All acts GSST;
and parts OF acts I'm con- SOD. @ D
flct with any of the pro- \1~ssr~os
visions of this statute are
hereby repealed"
This bill II Is evident
from the most cursory
reading, Is revolutionary
Its enactment by the
legislatures of the states would practically change
the whole status of women In the United States
III sets women on exactly the same plane ms men
In everything affecting their freedom of action as
citizens and as individuals.
Ii VIII affect the divorce laws of many states
marriage VIII no longer remove woman's citi-
zehship, A mother may become the equal guardi-
an with her husband of her children wife's
earnings are no longer at the disposition of her
husband. married woman may choose her
nome; she may even select her name And II puts
men and women on exactly the same plane In re-
spect TO jury service-which opens up an exceed
ingly complicated and interesting question; as
suggested by the outcome of the Arbuckle case In
San Francisco. These are but few of the many
radical changes that would be brought about by
the adoption of the blanket law by the legislatures
This blanket bill has found hard shedding In
most of the states In Louisiana its promoters
could not get 1t before the legislature; members
refused to Introduce II on the ground that II
would destroy the headship Of the family. In
Alabama the bill was defeated with practical una
nimlty. In Florida the result was the same In
Michigan II is claimed that the bill will be passed
at the next regular session. two years from now.
In short. this blanket bill has been passed by but
legslature-that of Wisconsin.
So the campaign has been tedious and the re-
suit small. or course the National Woman's par
" has not given up the battle In the states 1t Is
still campaigning and intends tn campaign. But
TO gain tme-and doubtless also to secure ma
tional publicity-it seeks amendment to the
federal constitution.
This proposed amendment to the Constitution
is short and To the point, Ii reads:
"Sec. 1--No political, civil or legal disabilities
or inequalities on account of sex, account
of marriage unless applying alike to both sexes,
shall exist within the United States any place
subject To their Jurisdiction.
Sec. 2-Congress shall have power TO enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
This. you see. accomplishes all that the blanket
bin does II puts men and women ON an equality
before the law. 1t eliminates the question of sex.
Now here is where the distinction with a diff
camp cries stop
In many of the states the persistent efforts OF
woman's organizations have secured for women
rights and privileges under the law which were
granted to women because they were women. The
law, I'm a word has recognized sex and has con
ferred special privileges upon woman TO offset
her limitation because of sex.
There is n long list OF these special state laws
that have been enacted for women because they
are women. This list includes legislation ON mini
mum wage. mothers pensions limitation OF hours
prohibition of night work etc, etc. And there Is
the federal maternity" act, just passed by con
gress.
The women In opposition 10 the blanket law
and to the constitutional amendment therefore OPP
pose these two measures on the ground that they
throw all women's welfare legislation in the bal
ance that In gaining absolute equality before the
law woman will lose what has been secured for her
as woman through long years Of uneeasing effort.
Therefore the National League Of Women Voters
and the other organizations In its camp believe in
accomplishing the revision Of state laws grad
ually, by methods that shall create no hardship
and no upheaval. Their campaign provides for in
yestigation I'm each state and special legislation
to III the case.
Both camps Of course. have consulted the law
yers as TO the effect OF the adoption OF the consti.