[Indexed as: “OWLs Organize to Fight the ‘Alimony Junkie,’” syndicated (New York Times), The Montana Standard (Butte-Anaconda, Mt.), Jul. 10, 1970]

NEW YORK – “Alimony Junkie” — a woman who lives off alimony from her ex-husband, usually content to sit around the house, over-eating, drinking heavily, and watching television all day long. Loathe to take a job, or remarry.

Major goal in life: Making life miserable for her former spouse.

This view of the woman receiving alimony is held by most members of a new Manhattan-based organization called the Other Woman Ltd., or OWL for short.

The OWLs — ex-husbands, second wives, single women whose boyfriends are payingalimony — say they banded together for one purpose: To try to rehabilitate the “alimony junkie” so she can get a job and cut all ties with her former husband.

AS THEY PUT it, if a man commits murder he could be free in 20 years but if a man and woman commit a luckless marriage, the man must nevertheless support the woman forever.

MRS. ZEIGLER, a slender 31-year-old ash blonde, said OWL was organized last fall as a result of an advertisement some students wrote in a course called “Social Change Through Issue Advertising,” which was taught by her husband, John, at the New School for Social Research. Zeigler, who heads his own advertising agency, pays alimony to his first wife who does not work and supports their four children. It was he who suggested to his students that one of their ads should deal with alimony and the high cost of leaving.

THE RESULTING ad showed a well-dressed woman, depicting an ex-wife, sitting in front of a television set, munching chocolates. The headline says: “Send us $1 to help us get your ex-wife a job. Or a husband.”

Several advertising trade publications printed the ad free of charge, and the group also received publicity in national magazines As a result, Mrs. Zeigler said about 225 people — “most of them men” — from 46 states have answered the ad, without sending in the dollar.

MANHATTAN OWL members have held chapter meetings where they discussed such actions as demonstrating in front of family court judges who determine alimony payments, and picketing jail.

They also hope that they can eventually muster the public support needed to abolish alimony. (Only three states have thrown out their alimony laws: Pennsylvania, Texas and Colorado.)

“We’re not against child support,” Mrs. Zeigler emphasized.

“In fact, we think a father has a responsibility to support his children until they’re of age.

“And in some cases,” she added, “one could make a case for alimony. For example, if a woman was married for 30 years and never worked, I could see giving her interim support for about six months until she got on her feet.”

The OWLS, many of whom are feminists, believe that alimony reinforces the idea of male supremacy at n time when women are striving for equality. They also believe that alimony can be emotionally destructive — and degrading – to the women who receive it.