Evening star., 1926-01-29
Does Woman's Party Really
Represent Country's Women

Presuffrage days We're recalled in
Washington recently when $50 mem
bers Of the Woman's Party marched
to the White House to present new
equal rights petition--a demand for a
constitutional amendment which
would wipe out existing laws which
differentiate between men and women
in industry. Much of the newspaper
comment that has followed questions
whether the Woman's Party actually
represents the thought of the coun-
try's women and whether majority
of the women would favor the pro
posed amendment.
Here Is as strange grievance
as was ever pat upon the doorstep
of an American President" declares
the Akron Beacon Journal, as it re-
calls the fact that "a few years ago
the country was told that the grant
Of suffrage to women would solve
all their problems and correct every
inequity directed against them. y
Analysing the equal rights amend
ment now being urged by members
Of the National Woman's Party, the
Kalamazoo Gazette says: "lts spon-
sors argue that the various State and
local laws which regulate the hours
and working conditions of women in
industry constitute an unfair dis
elimination against the fair sex.
They would have women recognized
as tho equals Of men before the law.
thus wiping out any existing statutes
which are based upon a distinction
between the male and female divi
sions of the human race"
Describing the visit to the White
House, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle eX-
plains that They got as far as the
executive Office, where a subordinate
told them that the President was
over in the White House proper and
would not see them on the Lord s
Day, but might grant them an audi
ence later"
why SO many workers should be
protected when they are against be-
Eagle finds 1t very hard to determine
The Muncie Morning Star points out
| that President Coolidge had no author
ity to grant such a request, but thinks
the women should accomplish much
by directing attention to their com
plant" This complaint, according to
the New York Times, from a study of
| their petition, seems to be that they
have been only sufferers by laws sup
posedly enacted for their benefit.
Laws restricting the occupations in
which women may engage, the num-
ber of working hours per day. and
night work have simply handicapped
them in competition with men and so
narrowed the field of women's oppor.
tunity."
SHOULD the amendment be passed,
would the women generally be salts
hed?" asks the Bangor Daily Com
mercial, which expresses its belief
that undoubtedly the amendment is
being urged in support Of principle,
but it appears very doubtful if. with
Its effects thoroughly understood. it
would receive the Endorsement of the
majority of women" The Newark
| Evening News also asks. do Alice
Paul and her associates represent the
opinion Of the women of the coun.
try?" and the News wants to know
with what authority are they trying
to have the status Of women fixed by
the Federal authorities"
Pursuing the same thought, the
Milwaukee Journal wants to know
whether, II the equal rights amend
ment should pass, would all the pro.
tective legislation that has been built
up for woman workers, and mothers!
thus be endangered?" The journal
adds: "The Woman's Party Is speak
| ing for the professional woman. Pre-.
sumably she could take care OF her
self. But could the girl in the fac
tory or the mother who finds herself
with q family that must be supported
by hsf own s6eft7 So tho National