The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-04
Protest by Women Against Having
the Elective Franchise Thrust
Upon Them.
Legislators Arc Solemniy Warned
That Woman's Sphere is
In the Home.
and Other Horrors Prom.
gated and Paramount Rights sre
Threatened

SpRINGPfELD, ILL.,, March 3.-AD interest.
ing petition has reached the members Of
ths Illinois general assembly. II il signed
by some Of the best known of Chicngo's
society lndies and IL protest against
the bill extending municipal suffrage to
women, and denouncing as false and per-
ntci0us all attempts to secure legislation in
that direction. Among the signers are Mrs.
J. J. p. Odeli. wife OF the we'll known bank
Or; Mrs. Caroline Corbin, wife Of Lieut.
Col. Corbin, U. y. A.; Mrs. Elizabeth Gray,
wife of Judge Gray; Mrs. Z. +. Briggs, Mrs.
Cornelia McAvoy, Mrs. George W. Smith,
Frances L. Higgins and Isabella A. Gait.
The following extracts are taken from the
petition.
Busy in the care of their homes, women
have neither time, strength nor inclination
to enter the public arena and defend them-
selves against doings which thsy earnestly
believe to be pernicions and destructive Of
their homes" The French revolution is
reviewed, and authorities cited to prove
that woman suffrage would result in the de-
gradation CT the Sex. Instances of commu
nistic societies, etc., are given with the
implied destruction of the family relation,
and the petition adds: "When women
share with men the burden of labor and
government, Communism with all that it
implies is already begun. We regard the
question of the property rights Of COM
paratively few women as one of no import
ance compared with the vastly greater
right of women in general to maintenance
and protection in the home. while they are
engaged in the absorbing Offices and duties
OF womanhood, and this paramount right
OF woman is threatened with entire des-
truction by tho socialistic doctrines above
cited.
1--WE exhort you to remember that, above
all human law stand those great natural
laws inherent in the universe, which no
man nor body Of men can contravene, and
that these laws have forever established a
difference between the powers and privil-
eyes of sex. to disregard which is to invoke
the penalties by which they are relentlessly
enforced. We beg you to consider that the
revolution OF france could not override
these laws. but fell crushed under tho bur-
den; that in so far az any political
body in this country has attempted
to do SO, it has suffered defeat, and we be-
lIeve no greater misfortune can attend the
forming OF labor party of this country in
its attempt to secure legislation in the in
tefest OF farmer. artisan and laborer, than
that it should espouse the false and per-
nicious doctrine of the political rights of
women.
"We pray. therefore. that no matter what
argument to the contrary may bs urged up
on you, rs legislators for the common
wealth, you will stand fast by that ancient
bulwark of liberty, the home remembering
that the same power which says to all
men, behold. God is your father, and all ye
are BRETHREN has joined also the husband
and wife as one flesh for the orderly bear
ing and rearing Of children and the main
tenance of society, and has given to each
their own distinctive and equally honorable
share in the labors and rewards of life.''
The ladies in conclusion say they have
held council with many women in different
parts of the state and feel assured that the
petition represents the wishes of an over
whelming majority of the women of Illi-
nois.