The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-16
DO MEN WANT TO VOTE?
Woman's Opinion of Those Who Cal
Nnte hut Who Wont.

Woman's Opinion of Those Who Can
Vote but Who Wont.
Editor WOmdn'S Column. Morning Call:
Lord Chatham called the Magma Charta,
the petition of rights and the bill of rights
the Bible of tine English Constitution"
And yet how few men of England were
interested in securing those fundamental
principles. A few barons wrested from
King John the Magma Charta, and small
but powerful minority always takes the ad-
vance step in progress seeking directly or
indirectly to benefit themselves, while
the outs, as a rule, care very little be-
cause they are out, and rarely make
much effort TO enter, but as invited
for the supposed benefit of the ms they
finally come to full citizenship. The ne
groes made no demand for the ballot; it
was given them as a party measure ana to
secure the results Of the war. Foreigners
never sought the ballot as women have; it
was given them to induce immigration, and
even more TO add to party power. Poor
men never made any stir for the ballot
when diSfranchiSed on account of their
poverty. Statesmen like Franklin and
party greed opened the door TO them. Many
of the foreigners who flock to our shores,
as 4 rule, know and care nothing for the
ballot
IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY,
But they learn with us that it is potent
weapon; the lesson is soon taught them by
the demagogue for this vote as the symbol
of human freedom many of them know and
care nothing; for this vote as the means to
secure positions, or free lunches and free
drinks, the ignorant and the criminal care
much. They are first and last at the polls;
tickets and poiling-places are made to suit
them; but the true use of the vote as
meaus to secure good government, as O
hGu
at all comprehend. Our ''bosses" have
no more comprehension of the value
Of the ballot; they ate all jay
hawkers ranging at Will and plundering
friend or foe, and very few of our sU-caled
statesmen consider the interests of the
country. They work to advance their party
or their friends, To throw dust in the peo-
pies eyes while they cOnnive for personal
gain. How many legislative bodies hon-
eStly try to learn what is best for all chow
to make it easy to do right and hard to do
wrong" which Gladstone says is the func-
ton of good government? III women had
had sole control of this country for CEN
tury and brought Us TO our present condi-
ton, shown 50 little comprehension Of the
elementary principles Of political economy,
We should strongly urge
THAT MEN BE INVITED
To their councils; with our present out
look some had reason TO be satisfied. When
the Revolution was lnaugurated few wished
TO separate from the mother country When
Washington took command of the army he
declared that he should deplore a result
that should separate the colonies from En-
gland they were only fighting to convince
King George Of the justice Of their claims
That was the position Of the Radicals,
while the pT0SpeT0uS-thOSe who had some
thing to l0se-and the ignorant were out
and ont Tories. No one save Samuel
Adams and a few choice spirits foresaw
the end, and the poor men who had
largely fought the battles submitted to
laws that gave them less Of liberty than
they had before enjoyed; for in many
colonies poor men cared so little for the
ballot as 10 make no serious fuss over their
own disfranchisement. To-day cur most
intelligent and exemplary men in all private
matters stay away from caucus because
they are tired, because they don't care"
because they are too busy" because they
are disguised at the condition to which
their wicked apathy has reduced politics;
and If they &c TO the polls at all it is in a
squirt of patriotism to keep the other
rascal out" the "pesky Dimnlycrats" OF
the ''rascaliy Republicans" being
DRAGGED OUT
By their bosses to save their party Just
this once" with no expectation of real
benefit to the country. After all the heroic
efforts OF party leaders, despite the iutiu-
ence Of mOG0polst employers and OF gov
ernmental officials, despite the money spent
in direct or Indirect bribery and vote buy
ing, 1t looks as IL men do not care to vote
when we see the minions of party scrutn-
Ling the Great Registers and riding fast
over land and sea, to secure the registry of
those who can be induced to vote their
ticket; wien we see how many go only as
the party carriage calls for them; when, de-
spite all pressure, about 40 per cent of men,
not our worst men either, stay away from
the polls entirely. Surely men do not care
very much for the ballot or they would not
house the ballot-box in saloons; they would
see that suitable candidates are nominated,
for If they priced the ''freeman's weal on"
and If they cared, patriotism would soon re-
kindle her beacOn-fires and party bOssism
would cease to rule. Men live who under
stand and cOnscientiOusly use the ballot,
but those who say that women do not
want to vote" have only to look around to
find many men who don't want to VOTE"
while those women who oppose their own
enfranchisement usually explain, ''If |
could vote it would he MY duty" SIS.
fTgoy lTfyyTS