Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-11-04
WOULD WOMEN VOTE?
SONR ARE CRAZY FOR THE BALLOT AND
OTHERS SCORN THE POLLS.
An Interesting Collection Of L,ttars From Famous
American Women on Universal SUI
frags
Nm York World.


up to the polls and drop their ballots even
if they had the franchise. Of course fol-
lowers Of Bslva lockwood and such extre-
mists have teen thirstiDg for a chancs at
the bIllot-box f. long tine, and there
ia no doub! about how they stand in re-
gard 10 the question. There lie, however,
considerable speculation as to whittier the
women, as whole, care to vote if they
could.
The women whose letters are given be-
low have written what they have to say
over their own signatures and represent
almost every walk OF life in which the
women of the country have distinguished
themselves, and this collection Of opiu-
ions will stand az the most important con-
tribution ever offered to the Woman Suf-
frsge question:
WOULD VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN.
The Duke of Argyle, whom 1 remem-
b:r once to have seen supe bly, over
Swallowed by his magnificent mother-in-
law, the Duchess of Sutherland, though
himself a fair specimen Of progressive
msntood, is stsrn'y conservative woman-
ward, In lecture, which some twenty
years ego he was gracious enough to de-
liver befoIe a Mechanics Institute, he
sid: "a woman has no / light to appear
upon a platform except when she is about
to be hanged-then it is unavoidable. J"
This smart saying CAUSED great hilarity
among His Grace's audience, little wit
from a noblsman going a great way. /
used ID quote that senterc e in a lecture
WAS bold enough ID deliver from lat
form, and it always brought laugh-at
wcmen's expense--but tteu, again, my
comm emit en- 1t, though not par icularly
smart, never failed 20 bring generous ap-
plause, and this com nent was: "The
freedom of the scaffold, the CHASTITY
eq uality of the gsllows, 10 g-aciously &C.
corded to woman By the Duke of Argyle,
is not enough. Give her fair swings at life
az well as at death; let her have voice at
least in the sale c lion of the men who make
a I'D administer the laws under which VIC
man may DO taxed, divorced, deprived of her
children, imprisoned, tried and hanged"
That wa, my Sentiment twenty yesrs ago;
it is mine to-day, and propose to stand
by it. Would I vote if could? Yea,
verify, at divers times and in divers places,
to make up Cor my long political disibi'
lily.
GRACE GREENWOOD.
r. the right were mine should hold il a
duty and pie ssure TO go the pollsand vote.
MRS. LEW WALLCE.
If suffrage were given me / certaiL ly
should not % to the p, ills without NY hus-
bards company. He'd that right been
given me before Re was taken from me it ls
no. re ssary for me to say what should
have done.
MRS. HENRY WABD BEECHER.
AS A MATTER OF DUTY.
Personally have no sympathy with the
woman g. s1ffrange movement, but Should
is come pass that the msiolity OF the wo
men of tie United Stst thought it best
to have g vote l SHOULD fill into line as
mat er of duty. When l think of the at
tsndant necessities, such as separate pCl's
fer women, women inspectors of election,
the means of appointment and the gradui
merg; ng Of the detestab!e features OF prac-
teal politics into q woman's life, l cannot
but FAY that it is bad enough when men
are cor PEELED to mingle in the crowd that
stir up the Ingredients thrown into the
political caldron.
ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
I am in favor of woman suffrage ard
would vote if the right we're extended TO
me- for many reaso us, based on the ed.
vantage TO te derived therefrom by both
sexes. Ore of my weigh:;e3t reaso-s for
il ia that think it would be the surest
means cf securing for women the simple
Justice of equal psy for equal wo' k. Facts
show that voters alone have their aterests
MARY L. BooTa.
FULLY CONTENT AS SHE IS
Under no imaginable circumstances
could I 90 to the polls or exercise the right
compatible with feminine d | c,cy and re
6nei Oh, ist;an woman BOD, and to invite
them into the arena of politics would
prove subversive CT all domestic quietuce
loosen the lies that link them to their true
kingdom, the home heath, and prove as
disastrous TO harmonious SIC al order a,
did the wooden Horse to the houte
holds of Troy. "Woman's right t, vote'
would involve the forfeiture of womsn's
priyie'egs of commanding the reverence
and deferential homage OF mankind.
AUGUSTA EVANS WILSON.
might vote if pressed into thu necessity
by the voting of al sorts Of other womea
Bat shall hop, tlat it may never fall
to my experience. / b,lieye that wom'n
occupies a central, not an external, place
in the order of things, AID do not With
that order turn I'd inside out.
ADELINE D. T. WHITNEY.
Under no circumstances would l exe7-
else the right of suffrage were it possible
for me to do so. I zee no bered that
could accrue to my sex by tu:h an act
Ga the other hand, see the h'rm which
might ensue. There is a 2 -est &c Il of talk
sboat the refining il Il fence of woman
upon ro'i'ics, bat the coarsenirg effects OF
p1litiCs up1n womsn are evioe ltIy over
looked. Nc. ro / do not with to vote.
and hope the day msy be fer slant
when my sex is given the lawful right to
do 90. MARION HARLASD.
KATE sANDORS MoRALiZEs.
For the sake of other women who have
wrongs to right, and to exert an influence
in the direction CT progress ard reform, !
should 90 the pol!s and vote. Interested
in all toricJ ef the time iucation, reli
gion, politics, the liqvo; quest OF, social
purity with ons moral st sudsrd for both
sexes Il shonld gladly endure little dis
comfort or criticism for the privilege OF de-
claring my convictions by vote.
KATE SAgR1PN