Evening star., 1947-01-30
Poll Indicates
Women Juror
Bill Passage
Feminine Leaders
Attend Annapolis
Legislative Hearing
BY J. B. Zotmon
Sfor Sfoff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 30.-The peren-
nial bill authorizing women to serve
on Maryland juries might pass dur
ing the current session of the Legis-
lature, it was indicated today.
The bill, which has come up at
every session Of the Legislature
during the last 16 years, lost in
the Senate in 1945 by a single vote
after receiving House approval.
An informal poll of Senators in
dicated that majority might be
found for the bill which would pro-
vide that no person shall be dis
qualified for jury service in the
State by reason of sex.
About 400 women from all Sec
tions of Maryland, including resi-
dents of Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties, crowded into the
Senate chamber and overf1owed Into
the galleries yesterday to hear more
than a score Of speakers urge ap-
proval of the bill before the Senate
Judiciary Committee. tgs
Lone Protest Heard.
Only one voice was raised in OPP
position-that Of Mrs. w. Calvin
Long, Baltimore, who contended
that "women's place is in the home
Leader of those supporting the
measure was Mrs. John L. White
hurst, Baltimore, president Of the
Maryland Committee for Jury Serv-
ice for Women.
Appealing to Senate committee
members to listen with open minds"
to proponents of the measure, Mrs.
Whitehurst pointed to the crowd of
women as evidence of her contention
that "the overwhelming majority
of women in this State want to serve
on juries.
Mrs. Genevieve H. Wells, Silver
Spring, chairman of the United
Democratic Women's clubs of Mary
land and a former Montgomery
County delegate to the Legislature
declared:
women have taken their place in
Maryland alongside men in every
walk of life, but still are prevented
by law from serving on juries."
Better Verdicts Foreseen.
Mrs. Helen Brown, representing
the Lawyers Civic Association of
Baltimore, said she believed jury
verdicts would be improved If women
were permitted to serve. Her state
ment brought loud applause from
the crowd.
Others speaking for the bill in
cluded Mrs. Robert Poole, Silver
Spring, vice president of the Busi-
ness and Professional Women's
Clubs of Maryland; Mrs. Daisy
Lacoppidan, Mount Rainier, legis-
lative chairman of the United Demo-
cratic Women's Clubs of Maryland;
Miss Adle Stamp, dean of women
at the University of Maryland.
Also Mrs. M. Alice Candles. Demo-
cratic National Committeewomani
for Maryland; Mrs. LULA E. Powell,
National Committee
woman for Maryland; Mrs. w. David
Tighman, president of the Mary
land Federation of Republican Wo-
men.
AAUW. Represented.
Also Mrs. Mary H. Duvall, vice
chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee; Mrs. John B.
Rich, president of the Maryland
League of Women Voters; Mrs.
Clyde D. Everson, president of the
Maryland Division, American As
ISOLATION of University Women;
Mrs. John C. Shaw, president of the
Maryland Federation of Women's
Clubs, and Miss Ruth Shoemaker,
Bethesda, former Montgomery
County delegate to the General As
sembly.
In opposing the bill, Mrs. Long
said she was speaking for "the
thousands of unorganized women in
Maryland who don't want to serve
on juries."
She claimed women would not be
suited for jury service because they
are "too sensitive"
Her contention that women should
"stay home and rear their families
brought cries of mo" from the