Volume IV Part 110 (1/2)
In 1899 the Const.i.tutional Amendment Bill again pa.s.sed the Senate by the usual two-thirds vote, and was defeated again in the House by the usual small vote.
Governors Colcord, Jones and Sadler recommended in their biennial messages to the Legislature that the proposed suffrage amendment to the State const.i.tution be submitted to the voters.[363] The Reno _Gazette_ and Wadsworth _Dispatch_ merit special mention for the able manner in which they have advocated the suffrage movement.
A married woman may control her separate property if a list of it is filed with the county recorder, but unless it is kept constantly inventoried and recorded it becomes community property.
The community property, both real and personal, which includes all acc.u.mulated after marriage, is under absolute control of the husband, and at the death of the wife all of it belongs to him without administration. On the death of the husband the wife is ent.i.tled to one-half of it. If he die leaving no will and no children, she may claim all of it after she has secured the payment of debts to the satisfaction of creditors. The inheritance of separate property is the same for both, and either may claim a life interest in a homestead not exceeding $5,000 in value.
To become a sole trader a woman must comply with certain legal conditions. Her earnings are considered by law to belong to her if her husband has allowed her to appropriate them to her own use, when they are regarded _as a gift from him to her_.
A married woman may sue and be sued and make contracts in her own name.
The father is the legal guardian of the children and may appoint one by will. If this is not done, the mother, if suitable, is the guardian while she remains unmarried.
The husband is required to furnish the necessaries of life to the family; but there is no penalty for failure to do so, except that where the neglect has been continued for one year, when it could have been avoided by ordinary industry, the wife is ent.i.tled to a divorce.
In 1889 the ”age of protection” for girls was raised from 12 to 14 years. The penalty is imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of not less than five years, which may extend for life.
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women are not eligible to any elective or appointive offices except those of county school superintendents and school trustees. There are serving at present one county superintendent and fifteen trustees.
Women act as clerks in State, county and city offices. They can not serve as notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to women. A number are carrying on mining, and have had mines patented in their own names.
EDUCATION: Women are admitted to all educational inst.i.tutions on the same terms as men.
In the public schools there are 40 men and 274 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $101; of the women, $61.50.
FOOTNOTES:
[360] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Frances A.
Williamson, first president of the State Equal Suffrage a.s.sociation.
[361] Among those who have filled the various offices are: Vice presidents, Margaret Campbell and Susan Humphreys, corresponding secretaries, May Gill and Catharine Shaw; auditors, A. A. Rattan, Mary Cowen and Laura A. Huffines; superintendent of press work, Margaret Furlong; superintendent of literature, Hester Tate; members national executive committee, Caroline B. Norcross and Elizabeth Webster.
Prominent among the active suffragists, besides those already mentioned, are Sadie Bath, Lettie Richards, Martha J. Wright, Gerty Grey, Annie Ronnow, Emma Hilp, Mary Haslett, Mamie d.i.c.key, Edith Jenkins, Louisa Loschenkohl, Clara Dooley, Mary Bonner, Eliza Timlin and Josie Marsh.
[362] Mrs. Williamson was a.s.sisted by Elda A. Orr, Elizabeth Webster, Mary Alt, Mary A. Boyd, Jane Frazer, Kate A. Martin, Elizabeth Evans, Marcella Rinkle, Susan Humphreys, Sara Reynolds, Frances Folsom, Emma B. Blossom and others, whose womanly and dignified work was complimented by the legislative body and the public in general.
[363] Among the members of both Houses who from time to time have championed this question and favored all legislation for the advancement of women are Messrs. Bell, Birchfield, Coryell, Denton, Ernest, Garrard, Gregooich, Haines, Julien, Kaiser, Lord, Mante, Martin, Marshall, McHardy, McNaughton, McCone, Murphy, Richards, Skagg, Vanderleith and Williamson.
CHAPTER LIII.
NEW HAMPs.h.i.+RE.
New Hamps.h.i.+re has been rich in distinguished citizens who believed in woman suffrage. Ex-United States Senator Henry W. Blair always has been one of its most devoted advocates, and his successor, Dr. Jacob H. Gallinger, is no less a staunch friend. The names of both for many years have stood as vice-presidents of the State a.s.sociation. From 1868 the Hon. Nathaniel P. and Mrs. Armenia S. White were the pillars of the movement and there was an efficient organization. His death in 1880 and her advancing years deprived it of active leaders.h.i.+p and, while the sentiment throughout the State continued strong, there was little organized work. Mrs. White was president for many years and afterwards was made honorary president. Parker Pillsbury was for a long time vice-president and later the Hon. Oliver Branch. Mrs. Jacob H. Ela and Mrs. Bessie Bisbee Hunt served several years as chairmen of the executive committee.[364] Many pet.i.tions for suffrage were circulated and sent to the Legislature and money was raised for the National a.s.sociation. The Grange and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union have been valuable allies.