The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-09
PERSONAL WORK NECESSARY.


The greater portion of the Woman Suffragists OF
Oregon do not rightly estimate the work to be
done in the coming three years, in order that the
voters may endorse the resolution for an amen1-
raent to the States Constitution. We have little
doubt that the Legislature of 1882 will ratify the
resolution. but we realize that great efforts must
be made to secure majority of the voters in 1854
IN the cities and large towns the bulk of the vote
against it will be thrown, while the farmers and
villagers will be strong for it. The agrculturists,
as a rule are much more thoughtful and intelli-
gent than the laborers that crowd the cities The
former read and study during much of their spare
time while the latter idle away their leisure hours
in gambling dens, saloons and billiard rooms In
every intelligent industrious and sober cOmmu-
atty we are positively certain the resolution will
receive majority; but the ignorant, the unrea-
soning, the drunken, the lcentious the vicious and
the bigoted will not sanction it. And there are
large numbers Of these latter classes. They know
little about the woman movement and care less.
1t is hard to change their opinions because they
will not attend lectures, listen to arguments, or
read the papers. They opposed to "wOman's
rights" but can give no reason for it, They stop
not to think that any persons nature must be
corrupt who opposes the rights Of any other
person They have somehow got an insane idea
that "woman's rights" means woman's mans
''wrongs." How they got this idea, is past find
Ing out and it is a matter of considerable work TO
corner them separately and show them their
rors But we must labor earnestly with them as
individuals This work must be done in a free
kind and unObtrusive manner, for if the ire Of
thoughtless man is aroused nothing can be done
with his OpiniOns-or, rather, lack of opinions
His mind may be almost vacuity, but anger will
make him object to being given any ideas.
In soliciting for the NEW NORTHWEST in Port
band. we have met with much ignorance, often
among apparently well-meaning men, regarding
the aims and objects of the movement for Woman
Suffrage. We will give an instance, which is
only one of very, very many. We called at a
club-room the other day, and obtained an order
for the paper from young man in charge, though
not until after had some friendly sparring with
an interruptng member who did not understand
what Woman Suffrage meant, but, on learning
that il is what is called wOman's rights by men,
announced his opposition. He is like all ignorant
persons, and began to attribute to women the
fault that was most palpably his He earnestly
said women were "too ignorant to vote-"don't
know nothing about politics" We wanted to
tell him he was making himself ridiculous by
prating Of the ignorance of women after acknowl-
frage" but we refrained, and, with the assistance
Of the young man mentiOned-whOm we, to our
surprise, found quite we'll posted on the woman
question-succeeded in convincing our opponent of
the senselessness of his opposition. He learned
more in half an hour, we venture to assert, of the
Constitution and laws Of the United States, and
the servile position women occupy under them,
than he had gained i'm all his previous life He is
A man who never would have known anything
Of woman's cause had he not accidentally got
himself into a discussion because he never would
have taken the trouble to study or inquire. There
are thousands and thousands of men like him, and
the friends of Woman Suffrage will have to do
much of this personal work to make sure Of sue
cess. Every convert gained will make a differ
ence Of two in the final count-reducing the Oppo-
siton and increasing the favorable vote at the
same time. We hope every suiiragist will lose no
opportunity to make friend. The fight for the
Legisature of 1882 cannot be commenced yet, but
work among tine fnass Il voters can. Every friend
made win in tufn gain ss more votes. Wherever
we find an honest man who Is opposed to Woman
suffrage because he knows nothing of its aims ant
objects let us patiently reason with him. The
majority q voters who attend lectures and reaC
tae papers are ip favor of our cause, and we mus
roashthe tliougiltleas (butDet Feteess) multtudes
The bslIes 1s1ses pulll lllsses the Act granting the
Tonsn 81 OREGON equal ps. sperty rights with men
Ia its inEfodaelion eo tht BIZ occurs this sen.
tences- s'The efa of The old common law doctrine
when the vi could only sot as the agent of hei
husband. ah1 fet ia her esfn capacity, has long
since passed ,.,say. aed ia OREGON tie only right
that man possesses which sae does not is the right
OF Suffrage ard that good time is coming"