The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-04
WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
Leading Society Ladies Of
Chicago
Petition the Illinois Legislature Not to Grant
the Elective Franchise to Women in
Municipal Electi0ns-Their Reasons.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, March 3.-An interest
ing petition has reached the members of
the Illinois general assembly. 1t Is
signed by some of the best known of Chi
cago's society ladies, and is a protest
against the bill extending municipal suf-
frage to women and denouncing as false
and pernicious all attempts to secure legis-
lation in that direction. Among the
signers are Mr.. ]. J. P. Odell, wife of the
well-known banker; Mrs. Caroline Corbin,
wife q Lieutenant Colonel Corbin, United
States army; Mrs. Elizabeth Gray,
wife of Judge Gray; Mrs. E. F. Briggs,
Mrs. Cornelie McAvoy, Mrs George w.
Smith, Frances Higgins, Isabella A. Gait
and others.
The following extracts are taken from
the petition: ''.5usy in the cares of their
homes, women have neither time, strength
nor inclination to enter the public arena
and defend themselves against doings
which they earnestly believe to be per-
nicious and destructive of the true power
and influence of women in their homes"
The French revolution is reviewed, and
authorities cited to prove that woman suf-
Trace would result in degradation of the
sex. Instances Of communistic societies,
truction OF the family relation, and the pc
| tition adds: when women share with men
the burden of labor md government, COM
munism, with all that it implies, is already
begun. We regard the question of the
property rights of comparatively few wo-
men as one of minor Importance compared
| with the vastly greater right of women in
general TO maintenance and protection in
the home while they are engaged in alb
| off md a Of
And this paramount right Of women is
threatened with entire destruction by the
| socialistic doctrines above cited.''
| I'VE eXhort you so remembe that above
all human laws stand those great natural
laws inherent in the universe, which nc
man nor body of men can contravene, and
that these laws have forever established a
difference between the powers and privil
edges of the sexes, to disregard which is to
invoke the penalties by which they are re-
lentlessly enforced. We beg you TO con
slider that the revolution of France could
not override these laws, but fell crushed
under the burden; that in so far as
any political body in this country ha!
attempted to do so, it has suffered
defeat; and We believe no greater
misfortune can attend the forming labor
party OF this country in Its attempt to Sc
cure legislation in the interest of thu
farmer, artisan and laborer, than that i
should espouse the false and perniciou.
doctrine of the political rights of women.
1--WE pray, therefore, that no matter wha
arguments to the contrary may be urged
upon you as legislators for the common
wealth you will stand fast by that ancien
bulwark of liberty-the home-remembe
ing that the same power which says to al
men: Behold God is you father and al
We are brethren, has Joined also the hus
band and wife as one flesh for the orderl,
bearing and rearing of children and main
tenance of society, and has given to eac
their own distinctive and equally honor
able share in the labors and rewards O
life"
The ladies', in conclusion, say they hav
held court with many women in 6ifferen
parts of the state and feel assured the peti
ton represents the wishes of the ovel
whelming majority of the women of Illinois