Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10

I
league.
| Miss Edna Johnston, chairman of
efficiency in government" with MEM
| bers of that committee, is planning the
semi-annual meeting, to be held during
the present month, with prominent
| speakers, announcement in detail to be
given later.
Mrs. F. B. Croxton. new chairman of
social hygiene. and Mrs. Ben Nickel
way. new editor of the bulletin, were
introduced to board members.
Mrs Clara Wright Smith, editor of
the yearbook, announced that copy was
being prepared and the book would be
ready for issuance early in the month.
Mrs. James G. Cumming, chairman
of the living costs committee, announces
the personnel of that group as Mrs
William C. Van Week, vice chairman;
Mrs. Harris Baldwin, Mrs. Alvin c.
Dodd, Mrs. Harry z. Hull, Mrs. Edward
Heating, Mrs. Basil NJ. Manly. Miss
Ellen M. Rugg and Miss Lucy r. Swan
ton.
THE present position of women in the
laws handicaps them in every field
and prevents women from taking their
proper place as citizens, according to
Mrs. Jane Norman Smith, chairman of
the national council Of the Woman's
Party, speaking over a coaSt-to-coaSt
hook-up of the National Broadcasting
Co.
There are over 1000 laws in the
United States which discriminate
against women" Mrs. Smith said
These laws relate, among other points,
to the right of a married woman to
contract, to the guardianship Of her
children, the inheritance and disposal
OF her property. to the ownership of
her own labor and services. both within
and without the home and, what is
more important, to the right OF q wom-
an in industry to sell her labor on the
same terms as a man.
The National Woman's Party has
undertaken the task of removing these
determinations. We believe that the
logical sequence to the national suf.
frage amendment is the passage by
Congress of the equal rights amend
men providing that men and women
shall have equal rights in the United
States. This amendment will give
women what every man enjoys through
the mere accident of being born a male,
no more and no less"
Mrs. Smith says that the question
has arisen as to the effect of the equal
rights amendment on So-called PRO
tective" labor laws for women. The
National Woman'S Party, according to
Mrs. Smith, is opposed to the exploita-
ton of any human being in industry.
It believes that all industrial legislation
should be based on the nature of the
work and not on the sex Of the worker.
This standard of equality, she pointed
out, already exists in some parts of the
United States.
For instance, the law in Florida re-
quires seats for both men and women
In stores" Mrs. Smith said California
has in its constitution q provision that
no one shall be disqualified on account
OF sex from entering into or pursuing
fession. Over 80 States have an eight
hour law for persons, men and women
alike, in certain specified occupations.
Oregon has l0-hour law for men and
women alike in mills, factories and
manufacturing Adjustments.
The demand for shorter work day
Is based upon the need of leisure, health
and recreation. These needs bear no
relation to sex, and the laws which pro-
vide for shorter work day should be
regardless OF sex. The equal rights
amendment would require that all laws
De made to apply to men and women
alike"
Mrs. Smith said that laws applying to
woman workers and not to men are
among the greatest Determinations
against women. They close many doors
of opportunity to women seeking en-
ployment, she stated, while women
invariably forced into harder, more
poorly paid work, for which they must
compete with one another.
This legislation, linking women with
children instead Of adults, began years
ago in the transition stage Of women's
much protested invasion of industry"
Mrs. Smith declared. To-day, when
women are an established and increas-
ingly important part Of our economic
life, legislation concerning them must
be on the same basis as that of their
male competitors.
THE present position OF women be-
fore the law is most undignified one.
Women, whether wage-earners or home-
makers, cannot take their proper place
as citizens until they have gained an
equal status with men In the laws of
our country, and equal recognition in
every field"
Mrs. Smiths talk was part Of the
program on the position Of women and
the advances they are making toward
complete equality, which is broadcast
every Wednesday over nationwide
hookup b. the National Womans Party.
THE League Of Republican Women
held a meeting at the washington
Club Monday, November 4, at $3.50
o'clock. Mrs. Edward A. Hartman,
president of the league, presided during
the business portion Of the program,
following which the forum was opened
by Mrs. Charles Alger. She introduced
Mrs. Howard Leroy, who acted as chair
man for the remainder of the meeting
Miss Borchard was the first speaker.
She had spent the Summer abroad
studying the tariff in foreign countries"
and gave an interesting talk on her OBJ
servations on this much-discussed sub
ject.