The morning call., 1891-08-28
THE WOMAN'S COLUMN
A Plan Suggesting a Way to Sc.
cure the Franchise.
True 1nwardness of One Mans Opposition to
the Rights Claimed by Women-A
Bread-Winner's Idsas,

Editor Morning Call: An article by 81.
B. Blackwell is going the rounds of the
press, In which that gentleman attempts to
show some of the many gains that women
nave made in the United States. That these
are many must be granted. 1t is true that
twenty-three States have extended partial
suffrage to women; that in one State she en-
joys complete suffrage; that in many of the
States important changes have been made
affecting her legal status as wife, mother
and widow. and greatly modifying her sub
lection in the married state. Educational
and Industrial advantages aremore generally
within her grasp, and wider spheres of use
fulness are opening to her on every side.
These are facts upon which we women
cannot but congratulate ourselves, but there
is one item in Mr.. BlackwelPs article which
some of our enthusiasts show a disposition
to build too confidently upon as an argu-
ment in favor of the hypothesis that woman
suffrage IS already granted by the COnstitu-
tion OF the United States. Mr.. Blackwell
says:
Women have attained in the United States
Constitution, by Tie fourteenth amendment, an
express guaranty Of citizenship "AlI persons
born or naluIallZed in the United States" are
declared 10 be citizens of the United States,
aud OF The States IN which they reside"
The average writer on woman suffrage
obOho a QlopUSlNibl W ltdoUu ltuli tlllS tldt,
women being citizens, citizens being voters,
. hence-women are legaliZed voters. 4 re-
cent contributor 10 the Woman's Column
has gone 50 far as to quote the fifteenth
amendment in this same connection, or,
rather she misquotes it, or quotes it only i'll
part, as saying:
The rights OF the citizens OF the United
States TO vote shah not be denied or abridged
by The United States or any State.
That certainly looks solid and convincing,
ntpTTnnHtPlV
based thereon. the amendment adds:
On account of race, color, or previous condi-
tiOn OF seTYlIude.
But women are citizens" still insist
the enthusiasts. Aye, but read the second
section of the very fourteenth amendment
from which Mr.. Blackwell quotes. 1t says
in reference to the regulation for the appor-
tlonlng OF representatives among the several
States, that
When tile right to vote at any election for the
choice Of electors for Pi esident, eJc. is
denied TO any OF the male inhabitants OF such
Stale, being p years of age and citizen OF the
for crime, etc.), the basis OF represent tIion
therein shall be reduced in the proportion
which The number OF such male citizens shall
bear 10 the whole number Of male citizens II
years OF age 10 such State.
The logical conclusion to be drawn from
theSe two ott-quoIed amendments is that
neither had in mind any other class of
voters in this country than male citizens
The argument that women can in any way
come IN as voters under these amendments
hasn't a leg TO stand on. Before women
can vote IN any State in the Union that
State must make constitutional provision
qualifying her TO do so.
There Is something that can be done
about this. The experience OF Woman
SutfragIsts IS that every man who votes
upon the subject TetireS behind an impreg-
nable fortress and says:
Women, as body, do not want the fran
chiSe. Whenever they want it they Will
have it, 1t will ue theirs for the asking"
Now then: What is TO hinder our many
. Organizations of advanced women taking
the necessary steps to secure a general eX-
preston of opinion upon the subject? They
can easily post themselves as 10 the pre-
llmInary steps necessary 10 place petition
before our State Legislature, praying that
body 10 appoint a day upon which this
question" Dou you desire the franchiSe?"
may be submitted TO the women Of CahfOr-
MIA, for their answer, yes, or no, at polling
places to lie provided for that purpose. If
the result proved that a majority of women
in this State desire the franchise, then the
next thing in order would be another cleo
tlon, appointed by the Legislature, a which
our male citizens" already invested with
the franchise, might vote as to whether
they favor extending the same to the other
nail Ul lie States citizenship. II these male
citizens vote no, we will be no worse off
than we were before, and the test will for
ever quash that vent cradle chestnut which is
now their universal argument
II, on the contrary, the decision of the
majority OF women is that they do not de-
sire the ballot, why, we who do desire it
must weld to the ruling of the majority,
and again turn our attention to the develop
ing of more general public opinion along
our line of thinking. a. E. h
Oakland, Cal, dug. &c. 1891