Document 13: Florence L. C. Kitchelt to Amelia H. Walker, 8 December 1944, in National Woman's Party Papers, 1913-1974 (Glen Rock, N. J.: Microfilming Corporation of America, 1977-1978), Reel 83.


Introduction

   Kitchelt's letter to Walker resembles hers to Alice Paul of 27 November 1944 (See Document 12). Here she adds the interesting prediction that after the passage of the ERA courts would rule on "the difference between 'discrimination' and 'protection.'"


[NA]

CONNECTICUT COMMITTEE FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

38 MANSFIELD STREET NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT TEL. 6-6417

COMMITTEE-AT-LARGE
(in process of formation)

MRS. WILLIAM A. AMELUNG, Waterbury
MRS. E. WICHT BAKER, Woodbridge
MRS. ROBERT T. BALDWIN, Westport
MISS MARGARET BALL, Lakeville
MRS. NORA STANTON BARNEY, Greenwich
MRS. DOROTHY BAXTLETT, Putnam
DR. EMILY BARRINCER, New Cantan
MRS. EVELYN LUNGMAN BAYCHELDER Windsor
DR. EDNA BAXTES, Hartford
MISS MARY TAYLOR BLAUVELT, Hartford
MISS GRACE E. BOURNE, New Haven
MRS. E. G. BURDETTE, Waterbury
MISS CANTY, Waterbury
MISS MADALENE CARROLL, New Haven
MRS. FELIX CHARLES, Wntport
MISS EDITH M. CHASE, Waterbury
MRS. JOHN D. COOMBS, Woodbury
MRS. GEORGE R. COWGILL Haraden
MRS. SARA B. CRAWFORD, Westpart
MISS CORA R. CROMPTON, Waterbury
MRS. ROBERT A. CROSBY, Woodmont
MRS. HOWARD H. DIETRICH, Westport
MRS. LEE WILSON DODD, Woodbridge
MISS ALBERTA C. EDELL, Waterbory
DR. KATHERINE J. EDGAR, Bridgeport
MRS. HENRY C. ERX, Naugatuck
MISS GERTRUDE FOSSETTE, New Britain
MRS. ROBERT F. GADD, Hartford
MRS. ROBERT F. GOIN, New Haven
DEAN ANNIE W. GOODRICH, Colchester
MRS. LAURA HALE GORTON, Glastonbury
MISS JANE GRANT, Morris
MRS. WM. BRADFORD GREEN, West Hartford
MRS. ANNA E. GRIFFIN. Trumbull
MRS. THOMAS N. HEPBURN, Hartford
MRS. ELON H. HOOKER, Greenwich
MRS. ALICE E. HOWELL, Bethany
MRS. DOUGLAS A. JOHNSTON, New Britain
MRS. STEPHANIE KAMENSKI Berlin
MISS VIVIEN KELLEMS, Saugatuck
MRS. HOLLOWAY KILDORN, New Haven
DR. MARCANEY A. LENNOX, New Haven
MRS. CHESTER R. LONGWELL, Hamden
MRS. KINGSBURY MATSON, Wallingford
MRS. BERNARD MATTHIES, Seymaur
MRS. FREDERICK B. MARGGRAFF, Waterbury
MISS HELEN N. MERRITT, New Canaan
MRS. GEORGANNE C. MILLER, Preston
MISS ISABEL S. MITCHELL, Hamden
MRS. ALICE E. PARMELEE, Hartland
MRS. EDGERTON PARSONS, Hadlyme
MRS. JOHN W. POTTER, Waterbury
SECRETARY FRANCES B. REDICK, Newington
MRS. ALICE V. ROWLAND, Ridgefield
MRS. ISABEL C. RYLANDER, Litchfield
MRS. KATHRYN STALSBURG, Saybrook
MRS. NELLIE D. STEWART, New Canaan
MRS. ANNA MAY SWITASKI, New Britain
MRS. BESSIE H. TAYLOR, Redding
MRS. CLIFFORD TEEPLE, Naugatuck
MRS. LAWRMEN TIBEEYT, Wilton
DR. MARGARET TYLER, New Haven
MRS. HELEN L. WARNER, Newington
MISS MARY WEAVER, New Milford
MRS. RUTH T. WELLES, Coventry
MRS. EDWIN G. WOODWARD, Stores
MRS. JOSEPHA WHITNEY, New Haven
DR. MARSAN P. WHITNEY, New Haven
MISS ISABEL WILDER, Hamden
MRS. LLOYD WILLIAMS, Kent
MRS. JAMES YUILLE, New Britain
MRS. HELEN ZINKOWSKI, Bristol

DR. LENA MADESIN PHILLIPS, Honorary Chairman
MRS. FLORENCE L. C. KITCHELT, Chairman
Miss HARRIEY ANDERSON, Secretary

MRS. JOHN L. COPPINGER, Asst. Secretary
MRS. WILLIAM W. WOODRUFF, Treasurer
MISS ELLIE F. ADAMS, Asst. Treasurer

Dec. 8, 1944

Miss Amelia H. Walker
National Woman's Party
Washington, D.C.

Dear Miss Walker;

    Ever since I joined the Party I have been learning more and more, and hope so to continue! Certainly I accept your statement that it is complete equality for men and women under the law for which we are working.

    Do you think Senator Gillette was wrong when he said, Sept.12, "I do not believe there is a lawyer anywhere--who would construe that language (the amendment)---as taking away--the protective legislative acts--for children, for women, and for industrial working conditions, based on the type of work and service, and not on sex alone"?

    I suppose we need a ruling as to the difference between, "discrimination" and "protection". That is probably what the 5-year period will be good for, if we have to have it.

    Probably you and I need to agree on a definition of "protective legislation" before we can discuss this matter to advantage. I exclude discrimination because of sex, but include welfare, health, maternity, many forms of state protection of the interests of mother and child---somewhat as stated in Art.122 of the the USSR Constitution (enclosed.)

    Our opposition has no argument that carries weight with the public except the fear that women especially as mothers will lose out. Therefore it seems to me that if we can knock out the props from under this fear we shall have an opportunity of winning thousands to our cause who now hang back and regard us with anathema.

    These lawyers I have quoted are FOR the amendment just because they agree with you that what we women should have is complete equality with men under the law. We are just trying to blow away the smoke screen laid by the opposition.

    Do write me again.

    Very sincerely yours,

[signed] Florence L. C. Kitchelt



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