San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-31
Equality Fight
Mow Conferred in Texas

interests Of men and women are too
closely allied to permit OF division of
parties along sex lines, and is strongly
of the opinion that most women will so
view this matter.
"The Declaration of Principles,
which Mrs. Belmont declares TO be the
political PLATFORM of the National
Womans party, is given in full in the
number of Golfers above referred to.
In view of these facts, which cannot be
disputed, we are amazed to note that
Miss Lavinia Egan, representative Of
the National Woman's party, now busy
in Texas seeking achievements. is yo-
ciferously disclaiming the Woman's
party's intent to become separate po-
litical party. In Louisiana she sought
to thus camouflage the real designs OF
the Woman's party but succeeded in de-
women will not be any more easily
duped than were those Of Louisiana.
If the tenets of the Woman's party,
as laid down in their political platform,
should ever unfortunately become the
law of the land, one wonders what pre-
eisely would be the indueement for
matrimony. Let US quote few de-
mands of the Woman's party.
How TO Name Children.
"That women shall no longer be re-
quired by law or custom to assume the
name of the husband upon marriage, but
shall have the same right as men to-
retain their own name after marriage.
In such an event the Woman's Conser-
vative League would respectfully in
quire what name the children of such a
union would bear. Would they take
the name of the father, or mother, or
hyphenated name? Would it not be sim
pier TO merely brand them for proper
identification?
Again, that the wife shall no longer
be considered as supported by the hus-
band, but their mutual contribution TO
the family maintenance shall be recog-
nized' Mould not the enactment of
such law hold wife equally respon-
sible for the maintenance and support
of the family! What then, would be-
come of the law of this and many other
states by which a man can be prose-
cuted for non-support of his wife and
children?
Home Must Have Head.
"Plan Is of this remarkable DECLARE
ton of Independence reads, that the
headship of the family shall no longer |
be in the husband alone, but shall be
equally in the husband and wife A dual
headship would be obviously unwise. As
the husband is legally responsible for |
the support and maintenance of the
family, he is, and should remain, its
legal head. There must be a head to |
all things-head Of family, head of a |
business, state, etc.
That exploitation of the sex of
women through the white slave traffic,
or in any other way shall no longer |
exist, but women shall have the same
right 10 the control of their persons as !
have men, Such law would automa-i
tically repeal the white slave law, the
Mann Act, the age of consent laws,
and other protective measures of like |
nature. In other words, vice Of this |
character would be legalized.
That women shall no longer be de-
prived of the right of trial by jury
of their peers, but jury service shall be
open to women as to men,
The Woman's Conservative League |
does not approve of compulsory. jury |
service for women. The laws of Texas
and louisiana, provide that in felony
and murder cases, the jury. shall not be
separated for minute. We are firmly |
of the opinion that a person charged |
with such crime is entitled TO every I
possible safeguard against bribery OF
jurors, and therefore believe that the
present law of Texas, providing that the
jury be kept intact, should continue to
prevail. We believe also, that jury SER
vice for women would result in a per-
nanent impairment of their refined sem
sibilities.
Wcmen as Priests.
"Plank No. 10 provides that the
husband shall no longer own the wife
services, but these sail belong 10 hIr 4
alone, us in the care of any free per-
son. Does the Woman's party,
which repeatedly claims that it is seek
ing equal rights with men, propose that
the wife shall no longer own the hus-
bands services. but that these shall be-
long to him alone, as in the case of any
tree person? III
That women shall no longer be
barred from the priesthood or ministry,
'r any position of authority in the
,hurch.' This is strictly a matter for
he churches TO decide. That a union
If church and state is dangerous. we
bought to be universally recognized
act. II
plank rs is an absolute blanket
proposition designed to remove all dis
Utilities, not enumerated in the twenty
even preceding articles. 1t would make
women subject TO CONSUMPTION, posse
omitatus, and all other manner of
Wholly unnatural and uniting duties.
There are certain other provisions
hat would seriously affect property
lights and would result in endless liti-
alton. We have been so advised by
he many able lawyers of this and other
tates 10 whom we have shown that II
Voman's party proposed measures.
at is small wonder that of the fif- II
zen national organizations of women III
4 the United States, the Woman's III
arty is the only one sponsoring the bill III
rights which, in our opinion, should N
termed instead bill of wrongs for
omen as well as men, III