Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-10
WOMAN'S REALM.
BY Mrs. l.. II. BLANK, ASSOCIATE EDITOR.
Political Premium on Marriage.

Chicago Herald; On several &C.
casions IN the last ten or fifteen wears
Judge Doplittle has suggested that
married men should have two votes.
one for heir manhood, to be used in
common with all other males over
twenty-ote years of age, and the other
for their families. This idea was re-
peated bt him in the course of his re-
marks at the banquet of the Irouuois
club hepther night.
As an bffset to the agitations of the
woman buffragists and as remedy for
some O1the evil tendencies of the day
the thhory is worthy of attention.
Under Judge Doolittle's plan married
mel yho are also householders would
have Iwice the influence on an election
that would be exercised by unmarried
sinsafOr by married men WHO did not
maintain an establishment of their
own. When it is reflected that the
MEN who are householders, big or little
pay in one form or another, the bulk of
the taxes that under the present sys-
tenn pains and penalties are assessed
upon every man who establishes a
home, and that bachelors and boarders,
whether rich or poor, escape most of
these burdens, the logic of the Judges
opinion will be seen at glance.
While in the nature of things limita-
ton of the suffrage is practically out
of the question, it is possible to in crease
conservatism by augmenting the polit-
ical power otheads of families. This
could be accomplished without arous-
ing race or class prejudice; and also
without abandoning the theory of man
hood SUFFRAGE which, abused as it may
be, is nevertheless the surest safeguard
of the republic. In future discussions
of the suffrage Question it is probable
that this proposition will be considered
for what it is worth.
Judge Doolittle's suggestion can be
SUMMED Dip in this wise. If the num-
Der of married and unmarried MEN
were equal, the married men 8 votes
would bedouble the votes of the bach
elGrs, and it is to be supposed would
give a more adequate protection to
their homes and families. An unmar-
ried imam of TIKI world, might vote for
saloons and other evils which the FAITH
er of boys wdlld desire to have re-
moved as far Is possible.
But to douJ lie the political power Of
the husbandhnd completely ignore the
wife is but 70 render still more appar-
emit the unftirness of our political basis.
The mothf is as deeply interested in
the welfare of thefamily as is the faith
err We all know of cases, for they are
much too common, where the mother
lis doing ali in her power to keep her
children from following i'll the footsteps
|of disreputahle and drunken father.
THE vote of such man, when occasion
Differs, but deepens the misery OF home
and to double the vote would double
the misery.
Judge Dooiittle's desire TO increase
the political power of the home is all
right, BUT when he advocates the mo
nopoly of this added power by the heads
BIT the households, ne is all wrong.
While Judge Doolittle sees the evil
Resulting from the votes Of ignorant
negroes and disloyal anarchistsjhe ad.
mits the impossibility of limiting the
suffrage already established. He sees
Ino way out OF the difficulty but the
augmentation of political power among
Mat class Of men supposed to be most
deeply concerned in our nations wei
fare. Nov, it more good legal vote:
are needed, why, we ask, in the name O.
all that is just and reasonable can the!
not he given to that loyal, homeloyinf
taxpaying class Of citizens. whose onl!
crime is that Of being women.
BY opening the ballot box to womel
the great danger now threatening on
republic would be subverted. TIL
shout of the anarchist would lose it
terror. Our chief danger lies in tn
disloyal foreigners who with their OF
ganized thousands are able to strike
terrible blow at our cherished institu
lions. The honest hard working fol
eigner, WHO comes with his family t
establish d home OF our soil, is to b
welcomed; but not SO the traitorou
foreigner who even while taking tn
oath of allegiance shrugs his shoulder
and crosses himself, remembering hi
popish VOW, besides which all else
mockery.
Judge Doolittle's plan Of giving hil
two votes would not help matters an,
If more votes are needed to protet
and make prominent our America
homes and institutions let every natl
raj born American citizen have vot
: regardless of sex, race. color or prev
GUS condition of seryitude.' Then TT
way out OF the difficulties besettln
our nation will be made clear.
Judge Lewis, Of Sioux City, stant
by the prohibition law of Iowa, and
r every case endeavors to have the spif
2 of the law carried into effect. 1t tt
t people of eastern Iowa had. in judy
l Hayes as good man. they might We
) congratulate themselves. Judge LEI
is has lately decided that saloon II
4I,ya