The nonpartisan leader. [volume], April 05, 1920, Image 7

About The nonpartisan leader. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1915-1921

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
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
to be able to use further contributions of this kind in
future.
BY MARGARET W. STEWART
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
women will be ended, but it seems
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
OT
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.
"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 and in the
7 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: My husband is a
member of the League and thinks it's great for tha
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. P. DOLNEY.
SMILES AND FROWNS
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.
E
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.
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
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Plans for Handy Farm Home in Montana
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PAGE SEVEN
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 man/ 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.
side of the fireplace. The front porch is large, but
would make a lovely 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.
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BED ROOM Iff XM'
STORE (toon
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STORE (toon
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BED ROOM Iff XM'
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BED ROOM Iff XM'
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CLOSET G05CT
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I also have a plan
for what I would call
the farm work shop.
In this shop there
should be an engine,
washing machine, chum,
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.
MONTANA FARM
GIRL.
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ftcoMmooB im Wolf Point, Mont.