The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-01
THE BALLOT.
Some Reasons why 1t should Be Granted

THE BALLOT.
Some Reasons why 1t Should Be Granted
to Women as Well as to Men.
Editor UOmdn'S Column, Morning Call:
| am for the extension of the right of the
ballot to women. Why should they not
have it? They are as much interested In
the welfare OF this country and in the right
settlement of questions with which the
Government deals rs we men are. They are
part of the population as much as we.
The right to the ballot is not one which
inheres in the constitution of person like
the right to eat 1t does not attach to
single individual in solitude 1t belongs to
persons because they are members of
civilized society. The ballot system is
based upon the fact that there are two or
more persons in the world assocating to-
gether, having common interests or in
terests in common, regarding which or the
management of which they find it necessary
to come to agreement, and the ballot and
the whole system of elections is one means
of coming to agreement. The ballot IS
convenience Of civilized society, belongs to
persons because they are members of one
organization and thus have common in
terests and belongs to all who have such
interest and because they have it, In the
rallying cry OF mo taxation without repre-
sentation''-a Talyil & cry which is old yet
ever is nAw-the word taxation" has really
wider meaning than. appears on its face.
Taking the word with its wider meaning
the phrase means that no person or govern
ment or power Of any kind has the right to
impose a law Of any kind upon persons who
were not heard in its making. 1t points, in
short, to pure democracy, in which all
laws which are designed to apply to the
whole people shall be made only by direct
majority vote of
THE WHOLE PEOPLE.
As have already Indicated l donot think
man has any right to the ballot merely
because he is a man; nor am l in favor Of
The extension of it to women merely because
they are women, but, instead, because they
are equal members with men, with US, IN
society. Yet, contradictory as IL may ap-
pear, there Is one view OF the matter OF rep
resentation in which l am in favor Of max
ing woman a partner in the body polite,
because she is woman. In at least many
places in the universe 1t seems that two
different expressions of fOTce-WhetheT that
force is attractive or prOpulsive-are neceS-
>aTy to life and progress, Tor lie means
progress; that each force Is but a hail, so
10 speak, ana that it takes two halves to
make one complete, rounded ana perfect
whole. Two expressions OF force, operat-
ing at something like right angle to each
other, take the earth around the sun. and
not into the sun, not oil into space-eVer on
its cycle they make it 60 1t takes the
union of the two different poles of battery
10 make an electric circuit. Neither one
alone has force to make progress. SO 1t
seems to me that the equal partnership OF
men and women in politics is necessary to
! make politics as adaptive, economical and
90 they chpnlH no The man
agement of those kinds Of public buSl-
npsses which are included in the term
politics" by men alone Is Wasteiul. Inc
equal participation OF women would tend
to make such management mere economl-
cal, for woman IS the natural economist oil
society. Man is naturally the radical,
roamy, ever reaching out after-somethlng
element in society; woman the conserva-
tive, systematlZlng, hOme-Stayng element.
Together they make the complete and
beautiful whole, called society human life.
Women
WOULD BE VALUABLE Co-woRKERs
In the body polite because they naturally
see another side If any subject than men
see, and yet seek to attain the same end
the general welfare. Where the same end
is sought difference of views with good Will
is valuable; for everybody knows that two
views OF a subject give more complete
|. knu wledge of 1t than one, and the Judg-
ment.W hIch. comes of variety OF views IS
liable to be most just TO all. Government
deals with the interest Of men and WOMEN
generally. Grant that its machinery Is
simple its spirit kindly, benefclanesS Will
be in proportion lis the acts Of officials are
guided by comprehensive knowledge of the
interests affected. The law by; (which they
are h. be guided should be an epitome of.
|: such know ledge-; and IL WILDE CON pTehen-
..sive just in propdEtiGn.a as 1t comes near 10.
:belng "a summing; up'the kn0Nledge:and
:$wlShes:and Wils Of'all those to- be AFFECTED
|. by it " OMEN. would be valuable, npO!l-t
tics, not o:IlY 'because.thfX; W"gld supply. a.
:riewTGgulatiXt. force Of which politics is,
Row: very. much in need, and BECAUSE
,woInan;fs the natural onsertative%f6 force. I'M
hum an. life, but also beGause, as q wltole;>
they wOuld::supply "A new view or views Of
.:a!l THE subjects dealt with bS.;the people.
|; through. the medium.O general orgqnlza::
t .ti0n? and officials. . - :. =: II: ::
III may Ircspass a few: lines further on
/: ydur.s pacefI Will say that am in :lavcr-of
tile equal participation of women in pofi-
:tiGS:btcaI!se | want to see this Government
uf.:ours, in this great free land; ,eyolve into
"a :demOclacy.. "a democracy is any com:
| nlu9ity.in which the laws are made only by
| "a majority Vote Of all: g.. 4:...
| !; II; 'He:>haye not. been. talking about: a
/: "demqcTacY".,in "a Pickwickian sense. If
|: wearea lly;in6an~ bU sness, and" do think il
would. be:better;t0 lfaye the laws made lor
! not. by the Whole people; then Certainly
| the first step JS:1Or us 10 admit our mothers,
/. wiz s:and: sisters to equal political partner
| 'ship.With US. sra... -. -.
| lido not believe in the'bal for the par
tfcuar benefit. of. amy class: i believe jim
|. the ballot for all for the benefit Of ALL l.
+ have no doubt that law whrch is to apply
Eto all should be made .by-all ;; and that If. it
were, laws would BE fewer, palmer. and
more comprehensive. and many Of the tan.
I giles Of. life. would be quickly Strengthened
out. FEANK*P. CoOk.:'.
:. ~-"oUR RIGHTS" e,
Views Expressed by One who Is OPP