Woman and the Republic: A Survey of the Woman-Suffrage Movement in the United States and a Discussion of the Claims and Arguments of Its Foremost AdvocatesJohnson, Helen Kendrick
History
Woman and the Republic: A Survey of the Woman-Suffrage Movement in the United States and a Discussion of the Claims and Arguments of Its Foremost Advocates
Johnson, Helen Kendrick
Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States; Women -- Suffrage -- United States
The New York State Suffrage Association includes in its report of the
doings at the Constitutional Convention a report of its legislative work
for the twenty-two years of its existence. Of the many petitions presented
during those years, but three relate to anything but Suffrage in some
form, and these did not originate with the New York Suffrage Association.
One of these three related to the bill to secure police matrons in New
York City. Work was begun in 1882 and ended in success in 1891, there
being strong opposition to it. The act to provide woman physicians for
prisons, and one making mother and father joint guardians of children,
passed in 1888 and 1892. Three of the Suffrage bills refer to school
matters, one of which was successful and two were lost. Five relate to
municipal suffrage, all of which were defeated. The remaining sixteen
bills were all for full suffrage, were all urged by many speakers, and
were all defeated. I give, in closing, Mr. Francis M. Scott's summary of
the laws of New York State that relate especially to women and are in
force to-day. Much special legislation urged by Suffrage petitions has not
been enacted at all, and much has been passed in a different form.
Suffragists say that the change of laws constitutes no reason for opposing
suffrage, but to my mind it constitutes a most excellent one. What has
been done by petition proves the power to do more by the same means, and
the fact that much of the best legislation has been against the demand of
the Suffragists or in precedence of it, proves that the rights of women
are in hands that are capable of meeting fresh interests as they arise.
Every profession and business is open to women to exactly the same extent
as to men, and already women have found a place in law, medicine,
architecture, journalism, and other professions.
Single women always could engage in commercial and mercantile pursuits
without hindrance or restriction.
Notwithstanding her marriage, a woman now holds and enjoys her separate
property, however acquired, freed from any interference or control on the
part of her husband, and from all liability for his debts.
She may sell, assign, and transfer her real and personal property, and
carry on any trade or business and perform any labor and services on her
own sole and separate account, and her earnings are her own sole and
separate property.
She may sue and be sued, as if she were unmarried, and may maintain an
action in her own name for injury to her person or character (including
actions for slander or libel), and the proceeds of any such action are her
sole and separate property.
She may contract to the same extent, with like effect in the same form as
if she were unmarried, and she and her separate estate are liable thereon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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