The Iola register., 1891-04-17
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
GIVE REASONS WHY
WOMEN SHOULD, AND REASONS
WHY THEY SHOULD NOT BE GRANT
ED THE BALLOT, AND HAVE EoEAL
POLITICAL RIGHTS WITH MEN.
Wide Divergence of Views.


A Wide Divergence of Views.
The following questions were indis-
criminately put to about fifty senator's
and representatives of the ffty-frst
congress:
What are your objections to woman
suffrage. and would you be willing to
abide by the decision on that question
OF a majority vote Of the women of your
own state?
The following are the varying and
exceedingly interesting results:
Most assuredly l object to woman
suffrage" said Roger @. Mills, d. of
Texas 'Why? Because God Al
mighty made her for other purposes
than government. Nature made men
and women for different spheres, and
such a step on her part would destroy
the beautiful existing relations. No; /
would not accept the ma ajority vote OF
the women of any state on that ques-
ton. Women have no business to
vote. They are too sentimental for
politics"
"What objections have 1 to woman
suffrage?" repeated William Mckinley
of Chic. "NOne-none whatever. |
most heartily favor it, and wish | had
the time to give my reasons more fully.
To the questions as TO whether he would
be willing to submit it to the women
he replied. Il most certainly would"
Charles F. O'Farrel (D.) of Virginia
said: The south is opposed to woman
suffrage. The white women OF the
south do not wish to unseX themselves.
They are satisfied with the laws made
by their natural protectors. A woman's
place is at home, and as for myself
would not marry a woman that wanted
to help make the laws. There could
not be found 1000 suffrage women in
Virginia to day.
Mr.. PavsOn of Illinois, R.--No Obiec-
tions, and never had. am woman
suffragist from way back. As far back
as can remember | have believed in
and advocated the equal rights OF women
and men. Now put it stronger if you
can. only preserve the sentiment.
Mr. Breckenridge of Kentucky, D.-I
don't think If would be a wise experiment
and the time has not yet come for the
discussion of that question. 1t Is not a
popular question in the southland while
! haYe no objection 10 local experiments
on certain questions of education, etc.
/ have no leaning towards this so called
universal sufTerage which would effect
the present relations of man and wife.
Mr.. Burrows of Michigan, R.-Thcre
is no logical ground upon which suf-
frage can be denied to women. When
it was written in the great declaration
of Independence that all men were born
free and equal. it meut women also, and
it is their natural right just as much as
il is ours.
Mr.. Dollivar OF Iowa, RI have nev-
cr heard an argument in favor OF sui
frage that did not apply TO women.
The only objection to woman suffrage
is the prejudice of men. but | would
prefer that this question of woman sui
fragc in my state should be settled by
the legal voters OF that state and not by
the women.
Mr.. Butterworth OF Ohio. R.-It
would narrow instead OF widen her
sphere of usefulness. She would not
get the good from il she expects.
When asked If he would be willing to
let the women OF Ohio decide for them
selves he replied: That is not a fair
question" but added. God bless wO-
man. and we got $50. COO for the wOman's
board Of the worlds fair in 1898"
Mr. Laws OF Nebraska, RI have |
favored womans suffrage all my life. |
simply because it is right, because it is |
just.
E. 3. TAYLOR Of Ohio. R.-Women |
have as good right 10 suffrage as men. |
Without that for them there can be no |
universal suffrage. and they are as intel |
ligent and as competent as men.
Mr.. Perkins OF Kansas. RI would |
be willing to leave it to the women of
my own state to settle. but the New |
Jersey women lost an elective franchise |
because they failed to exercise it, and |
| fear the Indifference OF woman herself |
is the bar to her rights in that direc- |
tiOn.
Mr.. Mason of Illinois, R.-TO the
question as to what my objections are, |
put me down most clearly and emphatic |
ally as having none.
Mr.. Lodge OF Massachusetts, R. author |
and champion of the elections bill |
have no interview to give on that QueS- |
tion. When it arrives as an issue will |
discuss it.
Mr. Bingham. Pennsylvania, RI
Woman's place is at home. She does |
not belong in the mire of politics, and / |
would vote against woman suffrage, and |
yet l would ike to see all government
Offices and all professions open to ber.
Mr. Evans of Tennessee. RI would |
be willing to submit the question of
suffrage to the women of Tennessee and
abide by their decision.
Mr.. Kerr of Iowa, RI have been, in
favor OF equal rights since l was p
years old. In lS56 | met Francis d. |
Gage, who converted me to that idea.
| was chairman of the committee which
offered a constitutional amendment in
the Iowa legislature in 1854. We re-
ported in favor Of submitting il to the
people. and came within three votes of
carrying. We had a republican ma
joI ity of but one. and every democrat
voted against it. | am in favor of
every person of mature years and not
under guardianship exercising 4 part
Of the governing power.
Mr.. Cannon OF Illinois. Rim Wyom-
ing | would be for il and vote against
repeal. But, living as do in Illinois,
do not want TO meet the question un-
til il is presented as a conSt tutional
amendment. There is no logical OBJ.
lection. and woman has full capacity.
but doubt ii woman herself is ready
for universal suffrage.
Mr.. Kelly of Kansas, R.-No obiec-
ton in God Almightys world. Ifthere
is anything | am in favor of it is that.
II we had fifty women in congress we
would have as intelligent and a much
more orderly house.
Mr.. Pickler of South Dakota, r.
Taxation without representation is