Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-08-30
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
WOMAN'S LOGIC

WCMAN'S IO0sNs
The Responsibility OF suffrage ~ viewe'
by NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. why WomsI
Should Vote.
There is an old adage, ''If you wan
thing well done, do it yourself"
suffrage is duty. should not intelli
gent and conscientious women attent
70 it for themselves rather than leave 1
to many les. capable persons? Though
men often feel participation in polite:
q burden. has 'sny man every been dis
franchised from choice? 1t Is quite
true that there are many women who
do not yet desire to vote. not yet hav'
ing been educated to consider 1t their
right and duty to do so; but the time il
within the recollection of many when
the pro-slavery advocates claimed that
many of the negroes were unwilling to
be freed. Many women hug their chains
from about the same motives. But. as
it is quite true that there are men
who neglect to vote, it follows OF course
that women could also who failed to
appreciate the sacredness of the duty.
The fact, however, that many men
neglect to vote in no way affects the
franchise of men neither should the Opin-
ions of portion OF wOmankind affect
the rights and privileges of women. Ii
suffrage is an inalienable right. it should
he accorded to women without regard to
the individual wishes or opinions.
Reference is made to military and
fireman's duty, as suggesting other OBJ
jections. Are these tests applied to
men? Were not many men represent
ed by substitutes in the last war? How
is it with the lame or blind men-are
they disfranchised? The male inmates
of the pOOrhOuse are brought to the
polls here; but sensible women, owners
of property, widows without sons or
brothers, are taxed, and taxes are i'm
posed in municipal elections contrary to
their interests, against their wishes,
without their being permitted any voice
in the matter. How would a man feel
who was voting in his place of resi-
dence for candidate who would repre-
tent his ideas in regard to the manage
I,ent of municipal affairs? Would he
consider voting under such circum-
stances duty or privilege? Surely
privilege
1t is true that married woman is
.)ften sufficiently represented in this re-
s1,--Jt. but then why not give municipal
suffrage to widows and soinsters? That
Vas been done in conservative Eng
and. As for jury duty, can you tell
us why a woman should not be tried by
a jury of her peers? AS Miss Anthony
had told us. mo woman has ever been
granted a trial by jury of her peers;
women are tried by their superiOrs."
After municipal suffrage was granted
women in Kansas, lady-and doubt
less there are many such-whO was
wealthy. childless. having very good
husband. declined to register. ''She
had all the rights she wanted. Mr.. -,
the husband. could represent her. A
year after, the narrator of this story
was again in that town. Mrs. - was
ready to register. declared her deter
mination to do SO. What had wrought
this great change? Why, this woman
had beautiful grounds around her home.
that she took great pride in. and in that
place the cows were permitted to run at
large. and would get into her fine door
yard and commit great damage SO
she wished to register. SO as to vote for
n man for council who would be in favor
of an ordinance against the cows. But
of course her husband could represent
her? No! he only cast one ballot, while
if she voted it counted two against the
COWS.
After hearing about the relief that
Kansas mothers experienced when they
were able to drive out the saloons and
could permit their boys to be out freely.
knowing they were safe. one declared
herself to be like the woman in Kansas,
though the wish to vote was not from a
desire to preserve a dOoryard, but to
protect the boys, not from cows. but
from the dram-shop. And for this.
where is the mother. when she under
stands the possibility that is open to
her. who will not merely desire to vote.
but. more than that. will beg to do so?
And if it is possible by this means to
protect our boys. is it not a duty to
Yote?-C Christian Union.