Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-03-12
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.


found:
1T was rumored that the Kansas
legislature had passed the bill giving
full Suffrage to women of the state, but
the latest report is that while the bill
has passed the house it has been indie
finitely postponed in the senate. If the
alliance house passes the bill and the
republican senate kills it the republi-
can party drives the last nail into its
coffin. As one who loves the party, lin
Kansas) for what il has done for
women and temperance. the writer
earnestly hopes that the republican
leaders will not lose the opportunity TO
place themselves once more in SYM
pathy with the people and to shcw that
they may yet be relied on to carry great
reforms to their achievement. Every
republican in Kansas should be on the
alert at once to influence the senate to
pass :he BILL"
Mrs Mccormick says las one who
loves the party lrepublican) she lear
nestly hopes that its leaders" will do so
and SO. and calls upon every republi-
can III Kansas to come to her assist
ance and help to keep the republican
senate from driving the last nail in its
that the assistant editor of the Beacon
is very anxious for the future welfare
Of the party which is alone responsible
for all the laws against which the third
party is making just kick" If she
thinks the republican party should be
looked TO for any crankey freak in the
way of legislation. she is probably right;
but there would be more consistency in
her remaining with and working for
her hrst love instead of playing sweet
on new gallant in the shape of the
alliance party.
1t is not the desire of the DEMOCRAT
to enter into prolonged discussion of
the question of woman suffrage, but we
cannot refrain from making merited
criticism of the associate editor OF the
Beacon. and in the same connection,
reproducing the following sensible let
ter which was received last week by
Speaker Elder, who opposed the woman
suffrage bill in the Kansas house of
representatives:
Hon. P. p. ELDER, Topeka. Kans
DEAR SIR: [ have just read your
'protest against the bilI.giving women
the right of suffrage. l deem it my
duty, and that of every woman within
the borders of the great state of Kan
sas entertaining my views upon this
dangerous question, to Thank you, for
the protection and in behalf Of virtue,
home and domestic happiness,
the blrJhright of every woman.
Il see in looking over later
paper that a bouquet was pre-
sented III the house to the sup
pOrters of the bill. and that
the presentation was made in behalf of
l20 ladies of Hutchinson, as an evil
dence of their appreciation of the
action of the house.
Il am not little surprised that so
many women Iii one locality are SO re
joiced at the adoption of a law that de-
prives them of their birthright; that, if
carried out will lower them 95 per cent.
in the eyes of all mankind. Yes, that
operates to change the very nature with
which God has endowed them. The
and agitators of this bill
are mere scheming, designing female
husbandless, homeless,
friendleSs adventuresses, seeking
uotoriety; they have nothing to lose
and but little to gain; they can afford
20 elbow through the lobby of the
house, look in the faces of men without
shame or blush, talk loud and bolster
Gus and make themselves generally
they are asking notoriety
aud they are getting it.
IF this class of women alone were
given the right of suffrage, there could
perhaps be no serious objection, for as
u rule. they Can all ''sing bass.''
The noble wives and mothers of
Kansas don't want to be politicians;
they don't want to attend political
meetings, enter the lists with the rabbIe
tige. but if they are given the right to
vote aid hold Office they must neces-
sarily engage in all things that pertain
TO voting and hold official positions,
otherwise the enjoyment of that right
will not be full and complete, hence
these accompanying evils will be forced
upon them.
The faithful true wives of Kansas
cannot afford it; such a course will
ALLEVIATE the affections of their hus-
bands. will tear down their domestic
thrones upon which they now reign in
regal splendor, will blot out and
destroy connubial felicity and leave
them shipwrecked without home or
friends.
The tender. loving mothers cannot
afford it. They have nobler, loftier
purpose in teaching their sons to be