Woman's enterprise., 1922-04-07
WISCONSIN'S EQUAL RIGHTS
LAW HAS PROVED ITS
VALUE BY ACTUAL TEST
Continued from mage One)

most interested in cases affecting the
personal and property rights of wom-
en- and children.
"Fears expressed (by opponents OF
the law that women jurors might
be subjected to discomforts or indig-
|nities, have of course proven ground
less. Wisconsin court officials have
| treated women serving on juries most
courteously.
With regard to the other rights
and privileges granted women by the
Wisconsin law, nothing has come to
public attention indicating that these
new rights have made Wisconsin wom-
en- any less regardful Of their domes
tic ties: no case featuring any Of
these new rights has been reported in
print.
"Wisconsin women generally are
aware of their new rights. The sub
ject has been discussed in their clubs
and associations, amid general rejoic-
ing; and through the medium Of
neighborhood gossip, the news of
women's emancipation from a subject
position under the laws has reached
even the remotest corner of the State.
Letters from farm women, some Of
them very old women, expressing a
profound pride in their state as the
first to confer equal rights upon all
women, have come to me. There has
been some talk, among elements hos
tile to social change, Of attempts to
have the law repealed, or amended
adversely. can assure you that there
isn't possibility of any such action
being taken by the next or any later
Wisconsin legislature. Leaders ol all
political parties and factions recog-
nize that the new law has come to
stay-that it represents a permanent
step forward, never to be retraced.
"Wisconsin women are little, if any,
more actively interested in politics
than they were before the equal
rights law was passed but the politi-
clans Of all groups fully understand
instantly aroused by any attempt to
legislate them back into the condition
that women as voters would become
of legal inferiority from which they
have emerged"
The following statements from high
officials of Wisconsin will bear out
Mrs. Putman's report of the working
out Of the measure:
Revisor Of Statutes Crownhart: 81
have your favor asking how the Wis
consin Law giving equal rights to
women is working. I can only say
that hear no complaint against the
law from any source. The law works
no revolution, but rather an evolution
whereby women gradually come into
their own. They are beginning to
serve on juries with satisfaction to !
the public generally. There are no |
disturbance in the home or in mar
riage relations because of the law.
As the law becomes more generally |
known it will be beneficial in its oper-
ations. The women make the home
and this law will help them establish
and keep home. It is relic of bar
barism that leads some to believe that
a husband, no matter how great a
tramp he may be, should start out an
an ague quest and call upon his wife
like a squaw to pack her papoose on
her back and follow.
"The law will bring about greater
and fairer understanding of domestic
relations both by the parties and by
the courts. The Wisconsin Law has
proved that we usually suffer more
from the fears of what may happen
then we do from anything that really
does happen. 1t is good law. Time
may improve it."
Secretary Industrial Commission. E.
E. White: "Replying to your letter
Of January IA, allow US to state that
no suit has been filed to contest the
of Women's welfare laws, in
view of the passage of the so-called
Womans Rights Bill by the last leg
'slature, nor has any employers as
ISOLATION ever suggested that the
effect of this Woman's Rights Bill
is to repeal the women's welfare laws.
A few representatives of Women's
organizations have taken this position,
out nobody else has done so or is re-
luired to do so."
Senator Lenoot: II am in favor Of
al necessary legislation to secure
'omplet political equality among
women. am in favor Of equality in
Ill other respects to the extent that
here shall be no destruction of safe
guards and protection justified by