The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 5, 1920, Page 7

“ Fight Not Yet Won Equal Suffrage Only a Step in Battle for Equal Rights and Justice Readers of the Leader will be glad that we have found space for another article from this clear-thinking Wash- ington (D. C.) student of present conditions. We hope }ombe able to use further contributions of this kind in uture. BY MARGARET W. STEWART z=|E LIKE to flatter ourselves that with | the passage of the federal woman suffrage amendment the age-old fight for “equal rights” between men and that “vested property rights” are still as tenacious of old powers-as ever. A number of western states” have adopted the principle of “community of goods” between hus- band and wife from the civil law of continental Europe, among them California. Under this sys- tem all accumulations of worldly goods which can be attributed to the joint efforts of a husband and wife are held in joint ownership by the two, instead of being the sole property of the man, as in most American states. This does not include property held by the man or by the woman at the time of marriage, but would include any savings from in- come received during the marriage and the prop- erty purchased with such savings—presumably on the theory that though it takes the work of the man to acquire the actual money it takes quite as much work on the part of the woman if any of-it is to be saved. The law of California has previously been that ‘“upon the death of the wife the entire community property without administration belongs to the surviving husband, except such portion thereof as may have been set apart to her by judicial decree for her support and maintenance, which portion is subject to her testamentary disposition, and in the absence of such disposition goes to her descendants or heirs, exclusive of her husband. “Upon the death of the husband one-half of the community property goes to the surviving wife and the other half is subject to the testamentary disposition of the husband, and in the absence of such disposition goes to his descendants.” The 1919 legislature has attempted to remedy this discrepancy and advance the almost original proposition that the product of the work of a wom- an’s hands shall be her own in fact, instead of merely in theory. Chapter 611 of the laws of 1919 provides: “Upon the death of the wife one-half of the com- munity property belongs to the surviving husband and the other half is subject to the testamentary disposition of the wife * * * and in the ab- sence of such testamentary disposition, the entire community property goes to the surviving husband without administration, except such portion thereof as may have been set apart to the wife by judicial decree for her support and maintenance, which por- tion is subject to her testamentary disposition, and in the absence of such “disposition goes to her de- scendants or heirs, exclusive of her husband. * * * When the wife makes testamentary dis- position of her interest in the community property, the entire community property is subject to the community debts and the charges and expenses of administration. 4 “Upon the death of the husband one-half of the community property belongs to the surviving wife and the other half is subject to the testamentary disposition of the husband * * absence of such testamentary disposition it all goes to the surviving wife upon administration.” A referendum petition has been filed against this law. It is but one additional evidence that the en- trenched rights of property will fight for every inch of ground they are forced to give, whether the fight be between members of one family or be- tween enemies; that “special privilege” knows no sentimental ties. It will be interesting to see what vote is cast in this issue; whether women of Cal- ifornia will demand a legal recognition of the fact that their domestic duties have a property value and that that value belongs to them. INEXPENSIVE DOILIES Editor Nonpartisan Leader: member of the League and thinks it’s great for the women will be ended, but it seems- * and in the - | My husband is & THE FARM WOMAN'’S PAGE OF NEWS AND OPINION benefit of the farmers. I want to tell the house- wives how to make attractive centerpieces for the dining table, also napkins and tray cloths. Take a flour sack that has been washed once, trim the edges and draw an equal amount of threads on both sides about three inches from the edge and hemstitch. This almost all housewives can do and they make good inexpensive cloths. Grenville, S. D. MRS. J. F. DOLNEY. I SMILES AND FROWNS I If I had a key to the old oak box in which the smiles are kept, I would loose the lock and scatter smiles while the soul of Nature slept. I would gather the frowns that are many from the woful and sorrowing mind, And lock them up ir the same oak box that the smiles -had left behind. The dreadful keys on a string I’'d tie and steal away, care-free, And hasten away, this very night, and toss them in the sea. They’d be forever in its depths, deep in the raging foam ’ Then in sweet content and perfect peace I'd follow a smile to my home. Carrington, N. D. -IVA HARDING. FROM OKLAHOMA Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I not only agree with Mrs. C.'s suggestion but kindly insist that it be permanently adopted.” The old tried and true recipes have served very well all these years, in- asmuch as their products made our sons very fit to win the World war. I think we can subsist on them*® awhile longer. Although it is late I, too, say hur- rah for Miss Allen for resigning her position as a protest against compulsory military training. Cestos, Okla. MRS. MARY E. BECK. Co-Operation Will Win Mrs. Perry Approves Suggestion of Mrs. "~ Stongaard #] DITOR Nonpartisan Leader: In reply to Mrs. A. N. Stongaard of North Da- kota on the suggestion of women or- ganizing and owning a co-operative clothing and shoe factory, I say God speed the day. By giving the women of all northwestern states some definite, practical . ideal to work for we will gain their interest and co- operation to our mutual benefit. It is a natural condition to wish to own some- thing and have a vital responsibility for something. This would appeal to many” who will be hard to arouse on a political basis alone. A business ven- ture that would hold a possibility of saving dollars and cents all can grasp. A suggestion I wish to make to both the men and women of our League is the slogan, “Justice to all producers.” You may not know that those in cities and towns who do not understand our principles and aims construe this to be class prop- aganda, as so many put the narrow gauge con- struction on the word *producer.” I suggest that we change it to read, “Justice to all—privilege to - none,” for that truly is our aim. Glasgow, Mont. MRS. AURA C. PERRY. FROM SOUTH DAKOTA Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I have always had Republican views but have found that neither old party runs a governor for the people, so why vote for them? Even when they put a few good planks, taken from the League, in their platform, we can have no confidence in them. I have written Gov- ernor Norbeck, now running for senator: “The farmers gave you your present job. .You have failed them and still you ask them to let you represent them at Washington. Not for me.” Crandall, S. D. MRS. M. MILLER. Plans for Handy Farm Home in Montana DITOR Nonpartisan Leader: Some of the sisters have been writing about houses and as I have planned a handy little home I thought I would send the plans. It has four rooms and bath downstairs, and two bedrooms, store- room and hall upstairs. You enter the kitchen through a small shed, which on a farm is nice to keep slop buckets, mops and such things in. It also protects the door in winter. Steps to the base- ment go down under the stairway from the dining room upstairs. The large clothes. closet makes plenty of room to hang clothing, and shelves beside the chimney are nice for hats and bedding. The dining room, besides the large window in front, should be lighted by a small one on the stair landing. The large living room has a cheerful fireplace. There is a large window in front and a small one on each voosad) FEEPoncece somomsson GROVED FLOOR ALAN b PAGE SEVEN 1 BED ROOM 18 XW' side of the fireplace. The front porch is large, but would make a loxfely place to have social gatherings- on .summer evenings. The second floor has a large hall, two bedrooms and a storeroom, in which there is a water tank placed over the bathroom. This floor is only a part story high. The dimensions of rooms are not exact, as they are outside measurements. The outside would look something like the drawing. Some might like a different roof. I also have a plan for what I would call the farm work shop. In this shop there should be an engine, washing machine,churn, cream separator and pump, all run by the engine. In one end should be the wash- room, with tubs and washing machine, and at the other end the separator, churn, etc. There could also be a grindstone and by hav- ing a place through the wall for the belt to run through a wood saw might also be run by the engine. A stove of some kind would be necessary to warm water and by having one that would keep heat the shop would always be warm in winter. M%NTANA FARM Wolf Point, Mont.