Evening star., 1929-06-09
BY CORINNE FRAZIER.

of Woman voters ana pup
lished coincident with the sailing OF
leaders of the delegation which will
represent the United States in the Con-
gress of the International Alliance of
Women for Suffrage and Equal Citizen
ship, to be held in Berlin next week, is
particularly interesting on the eve OF
that international assembly, because OF
its very frank discussion and summing
up of the modern trends in the woman
movement, as it has been reshaped
through the achievement and use OF the
vote.
The relation Of the equal rights"
theory to the early doctrine of indivld-
ualism and the more slowly developing
doctrine of social Justice, the legal status
of women today and the present phi
losophy of the movement are dealt with
by Miss Smith in timely and compre-
hensive study.
The publication has been made pos
sible with the assistance of funds from
the Leslie commission, which was es-
tabIished under the administration OF
leaders of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association for the
promotion of woman suffrage and i'm
mediately related objects.
"rights" is pictured by Miss Smith as
yielding to that Of the responsible wom-
an voter, confronted by conflict of in
terests and principles, and forced to
consider many factors in the applica-
ton of her new powers. An arbitrary
theory Of equal rights" she contends,
is insufficient to meet the problems
raised in legislation differentiating be-
tween man and woman.
She classifies the differences in law
that exist at present-those which are
tn those which
accord special benefit or consideration,
and the large field Of law in which the
determination of what constitutes
equality of right is not easily agreed
upon. The last mentioned includes the
division of property after marriage, the
reciprocal rights and duties of husband
and wife, penalties for sex offenses, age
of majority and marriage, and particu-
larly the regulation Of hours and condi-
tions Of labor.
Miss Smiths arguments in favor of
special legislation for women in indus
trial occupations are of particular in
xerest because of her long experience in
the trade-union movement. During the
suffrage campaign, Miss Smith was
secretary of the congressional commit
tee Of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association and later became
legislative secretary for the National
Woman's Trade Union League and also
for the National Federation Of Federal
Employees.
For five years she served as labor
member Of the Minimum Wage Com
mission of the District of Columbia
under the Federal statute which was
declared unconstitutional in 1928, and
she is at present a member of the
executive board Of the National Woman's
Trade Union League.
Miss Smith draws upon abundant
testimony to show that, under present
conditions, the general effect OF laws
limiting hours of labor of women in
workshops, factories and stores is in
general to lessen the existing inequality
between women's hours and those OF
men.
with restricted hours comes re-
stricted competition, and thereby in
creased bargaining power, the most
vital thing in the world to the man or
woman who works for wages. It Is for
that the trade unionist exchanges his
freedom of contract, 1t is that con-
sideration which makes legal freedom
Of contract myth in his eyes, and
hers" she says.
"Who shall decide whether there shall
be labor laws for women?" is the ques-
ton pointedly raised in this chapter OF
Miss Smiths pamphlet. Her plea Is
against the arbitrary application OF
theoretical equality and more heed to
the development Of substantial equal.
ity as defined and sought by organized
working women themselves.
For the attainment OF equal rlgn1S
for men and women generally, MISS
Smith contends, a pragmatic,. not
dogmatic, approach is necessary. The
final end Is not equality. but justice
and human happiness, to which equal
3ty Is a means"
The interest of the pamphlet is
heightened by its survey of important
recent changes in the position OF women
In other countries and the newer phi
tions wherever enfranchlsement mas
brought increased responsibility.
It states fully the objections to pro-
posals of the "get-equal-quick" variety
represented by the proposed equal
rights" constitutional amendment In
the United States and equal rights
treaties of universal application:
At the Berlin Assembly, where 24
women from the National League OF
women Voters, the only American or
SANITATION which Is a member, Will
represent this country, headed by MISS
Belle Sherwin, president of the league,
more than 1900 representative women
from AZ countries will gather to dis
cuss the progress of the Womans
movement the world over. Nine OF the
American delegation will represent the
United States on nine international
committees dealing with peace, family
allowances, equal moral standards, like
conditions Of work for men and women,
the unmarried mother and her child,
the nationality of married women,
equal status of women, women ponce
and work In the enfrachised countries.
In accordance with the usual pro-
cedure, each of the committees VIII
adopt formal resolutions on principles
Of major Importance IN xdTk she heio
In addition to the efforts in behalf
of peace, the American delegations
first interest in alliance deliberations
is in the methods which are being
worked out in countries where women
have the vote to equip women for the
use of the franchise and for effective
participation in governmental activities.
Mrs. Maud Wood Park OF Portland,
Me, former National League president,
represents the United States on the
committee for work IN enfranchlseo
countries.
Attention also is being given in the
United States to the action of the COM
mittee for like conditions OF work ior
men and women, on which DR.. Mollle
Ray Carroll of Goucher College is the
American member.
At Berlin, as at other Alliance Con-
9resses, there are likely to be two
points Of view. The American delega-
tion believes in special legislation for
women In industry when and where
It has the actual effect OF bettering
their status and overcoming handicapss
which they suffer in the absence OF
special legislation. Those holding OPP
posing views declare that there must
be no distinction in law between men
and women.
The American delegation will uphold
the n0sition Of the League of Women