be his residence, but if it is a place of temporary estab- "Section 3. A new section of the statutes is created "Section 23.470: A married woman may have her legal residence and place of abode separate and apart from that of her husband. "Section 4. This act shall take effect upon passage and publication." "In this connection," said Mrs. Putnam, "we wish to recall public attention to the following paragraph from the Governor's platform, which admirably expresses women's purpose in supporting the above bill: "'Women having come into full partnership with men in the conduct of the affairs of government, the legislature should revise our laws to the end that in all matters men and women should be upon a basis of equality.' 999 On Sunday I talked with many women, some of them lawyers, about the bill. I read it over and over again, comparing it with the original bill sent to me from Washington. I had noted, when reading the statutes in regard to jury service, that the word "male" was always used. The idea kept recurring to my mind that probably there were other statutes where the word "male" was used, instead of the word "citizens," especially in respect to holding office, and that we ought to have a blanket bill changing all the statutes necessary to avert the possibility of any future legal discriminations against women. So on Sunday night I sent a special delivery letter to Mr. Crownhart, telling him of my fears; enclosed a copy of our original bill from Washington and asked his advice. I told him I would be in Madison Tuesday morning to consult with him, and asked him to withhold from the committee the first bill he had drawn until we could talk it over again. CHAPTER VIII. The First Bill of Rights for Women. On Tuesday morning, at 10:30, I was at Mr. Crownhart's office. He had drawn up another bill. He said: "After studying the statutes for the past few days and giving a great deal of thought to your bill, I believe it would be best to have a woman's bill of rights which will remove every disability against her which appears in the statutes, those we know about and those we don't know about. Because even though the ratification of the 19th amendment perforce removed some discriminations against women, still many courts, executive and administrative officers may not be aware of this and may not be acting accordingly. So it is just as well to have a declaration of rights which will inform every one of the status of women in this State. Here is the bill I have drawn for you." "To create new section 6.015 of the statutes to remove discriminations against women and to give them equal rights before the law. "The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: "SECTION 1. A new section is added to the statutes to read: "6.015. Women shall have the same rights and privileges under the law as men in the exercise of suffrage, freedom of contract, choice of residence, holding office, holding and conveying property, care and custody of children and in all other respects. The various courts, executive and administrative officers shall construe the statutes where the masculine gender is used to include the feminine gender unless such construction will deny to females the special protection and privileges which they now enjoy for the general welfare. The courts, executive and administra tive officers shall make all necessary rules and provisions "SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage I was delighted with this bill, so were all the women. It seemed a marvel of simplicity and completeness. We took it to the Senate Judiciary committee, and the chairman said he would introduce it into the Senate on the next day, and that he thought we could have a committee hearing on the next Tuesday, May 24, but that he would let us know. I returned to Milwaukee that evening and on Wednesday sent the following telegram to United States Senators Robert M. La Follette and Irvine L. Lenroot at Washington, D. C.: Wisconsin Senate Judiciary committee today introduced and will press to passage next week bill conferring upon women equal rights and privileges with men in exercise of suffrage, freedom of contract, choice of residence, jury service, holding office, holding and conveying property, care and custody of children, and in all other respects. Wisconsin women's organizations want Wisconsin to be first State thus to complete the grant of equal suffrage. We want you to urge your friends in Senate and Assembly to work and vote for this bill, which carries no appropriation and which will make your State the first fully to emancipate women. On Friday after receiving a letter from Mr. Conant, we sent to the newspapers the following statement: A Bill of Rights for Wisconsin Women. MADISON, Wis.-Wisconsin politicians of all parties and factions are becoming deeply interested in the woman's rights bill which organized Wisconsin women are trying to put through at this legislative session. Shrewd leaders of all political factions begin to realize that the roll call on this bill may have more effect on the 1922 State and senatorial elections than any other measure presented during this session. This bill, creating "new section 6.015 of the statutes, to remove discriminations against women and to give them equal rights before the law, provides: "Women shall have the same rights and privileges under the law as men in the exercise of suffrage, freedom of contract, choice of residence, jury service, holding office, holding and conveying property, care and custody of children and in all other respects. The various courts, executive and administrative officers shall construe the statutes where the masculine gender is used to include the femnine gender unless such construction will deny to females the special protection and privileges which they now enjoy for the general welfare. The courts, executive and administrative officers shall make all necessary rules and provisions to carry out the intent and purposes of this statute." The bill was introduced by the Senate Judiciary committee on May 19. At a hearing on the bill to be held Tuesday, May 24, representatives of Wisconsin women's organizations, women lawyers and others will speak for it. An early vote in the Senate is promised, and preparations are in making to press the bill to a prompt hearing and vote in the Assembly. The women are determined to get a record vote in both chambers, so that men who vote against the bill may be called to answer for it in the 1922 elections. CHAPTER IX. Trying to Bar Women from Juries. I had heard rumors in Madison on Tuesday that a bill had been introduced or was going to be introduced into the Assembly expressly barring women from service on juries, but was so busy I did not give it any thought or take time to investigate. But on Saturday, through the mail, came the startling news from Miss Gena Thompson that such a bill had been introduced into the Assembly, and that the Assembly Judiciary committee had bulletined a hearing on that bill for the same day and hour as our hearing before the Senate Judiciary committee. She suggested that our delegation of women, who were to speak for our bill, should appear against the Assembly bill. Here is a copy of that audacious bill: "To amend Section 2524 of the statutes, relating to qualification of jurors. "The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: "SECTION 1. Section 2524 of the statutes is amended to read: Section 2524. All citizens of the United States except women, who are qualified electors of this state, who are possessed of their natural faculties, who are not infirm or decrepit, who are esteemed in their communities as men of good character, approved integrity and sound judgment, and who are able to read and write the English language understandingly, shall be liable to be drawn as jurors, except as otherwise provided in the statutes. "SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and publication." amendment. The phrase "except women," was the Wisconsin women were incensed. How dare men introduce such a bill! Not satisfied with the discriminations against women which already existed, they wished to discriminate further against us. So we sent out the following statement to every daily newspaper in Wisconsin, to inform all the women throughout the State of what was taking place at their State Capitol: MADISON, Wis., May 23.-The fight for a bill of rights for Wisconsin women, and their demand that the grant of equal suffrage be made fully effective by a grant of equal legal rights with men, will occupy the attention of the Judiciary committees of both Senate and Assembly tomorrow. In the Assembly Judiciary committee arguments will be heard on a bill, introduced by the committee May 12, which expressly bars women from being drawn for jury service. |