, 1923-09-24
written for the United press.l

written for the United Press.l
BERLN.-By Mail to United
Press.)-For twenty years the Ger
man League for the Protection OF
Maternity has striven to improve
the position of the unmarried mother
with respect to her personal rights
and her economic and social condi-
tions. It has worked to protect I'M
married mothers and their children
from economic and moral dangers
and to wipe out the p~rejudices pre-
vailing against them.
The German constitution promises
equal treatment to these unfortu-
mates. but the struggle to translate
the constitutional clauses into law
has not yet attained its goal
The aims of the League for the
Protection of Maternity. which is
affiliated with the international
League for Protection of Maternity
and Sexual Reform are as follows:
!. Compulsory insurance for
mothers.
2. Abolition of legal discrimina-
ton against flegitimate children
3. The reform OF maternity in its
economic, moral and legal aspects.
4. Abolition OF contempt against
illegltimate motherhood
s. Universal respect for tho I'm
p~ortance OF motherhood.
In June. 1918, n great congress
was held to improve the legal posi-
ton of Legitimate children. All
welfare organizations, as we'll as
government officials, were repre-
scented.
Demands Of Congress.
The congress demanded that the
state and the largo communities I'M
dertake the care of all illegitimata
children. 1t was claimed that the H.
legitimate child should have the
right to legally enforce acknowi-
edgement of paternity from its
father and the fathers heirs.
The Norwegian law for children
whose parents did not enter matrf-
mony was passed in 1915. It gives
the illegitimate child the right of its
fathers heritage and his name. The
child can demand sustenancs and
education from its father. as well as
from its mother. The child lives
with It's mother. II the mother dies
OF neglects the child. the guardian
rrsy eutrust Il to ths father. This
parent under whose care the child
is living must maintain It as II It
were legitimate; the other parent
fulhlls his duty by paying a part
Of the maintenance costs.
Paternity Of the Child.
The paternity of the child, accord
Ing to the Norwegian law, must be
discovered in every case, 1t being
held that society. as we'll as the
child. has a right to know the social
position of both parents. II tho
courts do not venture to state the
fact of paternity. but are convinced
OF relationship between the parents
during the questioned time. the pos
sible father will be held to pay.
But the progress in Germany has
been slower. When, from time 70
time, It is reported that women off.
cials of the posts or t~slegraphs. or
a teacher. have been dismissed be-
cause OF Legitimate maternity. we
file protests against this unconsti-
tutional action. but the ministry re.
plies, quite as in olden times. that
tho dismissal RAJ ordered for i'm.
moral conduct. But who would
think Of enforcing the same penalty
for the nlegitimato paternity of
male officials?
Even the professional unions of
women officials. in declarations of
their attitude. have Joined in the
short-sighted policy of tho govern
ment. without realizing that they do
10 serve true morality. but only
hypocrisy. Recently. however. In q
conference Of the household budget
Of the R~eichstag. an article was
accepted which decidedly declares