Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-19
WOMENOF FRANCE
FIGHT FOR RIGHTS
Senate's Opposition Spreads
Franchise Campaign Over
Nation.
BY Gable to The star.

BY Gable to The Star.
PARIS, July 1s-French women de-
handing equal rights are redoubling
their efforts. They need to. They have
to capture an almost impregnable cit
adel-the Senate. The Senators have
decided, rather disdainfully, that they
will not even discuss the question, al
though the Chamber of Deputies long
ago passed Q bill enfranchising woman.
Consequently, the efforts Of the fem
inists are being directed today to take
the battle to the recalcitrant Senators
in their own election StrongholdS, in
each Of which they intend to carry on
their campaign. Furthermore, the
League for Feminine Action, which is
taking the lead in the fight, met this
week to organize a vigorous campaign,
with the slogan. mo taxation without
representation"
Appeals Ignored.
Senator Paul Strauss, one Of the few
champions of the women's cause in the
Upper House. has appealed to the dig
nifty and the consciences OF his col
leagues. and declared that 1t was unfair
W COAloCtIlH WlLlOut u AAC loo
pleaded in vain. The French Senate
refuses to devote an hour or two to a
discussion Of votes for women. Time
after time 1t has declined to place the
question Of equal rights on its agenda
Yet since the war there are more wom-
en- than men in this country.
AS q matter OF fact, women in France
scarcely exist legally. They still suf-
fer under disabilities dating. In some
instances, from medieval days. A
married woman in particular has nc
rights. She is the possession of her
husband. II she leaves the conjugal
home he can have her brought back
by policemen She can do nothing
without his authorization, not even ap-
ply for a passport. A husband has leg
al means of preventing his wife from
engaging in a hundred and one activ-
disappearing on the stage or pub
fishing q book.
The marital difficulties OF Col. Nelson
Morris of Chicago and Jane ALBERT,
the actress, furnish q case In point
The colonel has forbidden his wife to
act In France and the courts uphold
him to the extent Of assessing damages
against any managers or producers who
trsnsgress his will and engage his
actress wife.
Husband Given Control.
Unless there is a marriage contract
safeguarding the personal property of
of the wife, all her belongings are ed-
ministered by the husband and she
can dispose Of nothing without his con-
sent. Spinsters have more liberty in
that they escape the necessity OF mar
ital sanction, but nevertheless, there
are many things they cannot do which
does not prevent their being recognized
as taxpayers.
French women not only cannot vote,
but they are not eligible for any cleo
tive position. The first step toward the
ema ncipation of women came some 80
years ego. when they were allowed to
become attorneys and plead at the bar
Today the legal profession is a favor
lite one for women, but they cannot be-
come me gistrates or judges or bailiffs
or notaries public. The profession of
auctioneer which Is state regulated, was
opened to them only recently. and there
are two women auctioneers today. There
also are two women Protestant ministers
There are many women physicians,
but only one has yet been allowed to
practice in the public hospitals.
The French woman is weary Of be-
ing legally classed among goods and
chattels. She is organizing systemati-
cally to obtain her rights.
Copyright, 1917