The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-04

Chicago Ladies vigorously Oppose Bill
Extending Municipal Sura6ge.

Chicago Ladies vigorously Oppose Bill
Extending Municipal Surafrge.
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 the Chicago
Ladies' Society, and is protest against the
bill extending municipal suffrage to
women and denouncing as false and per.
nicious all attempts to secure legislation
in that direction. Among the signers are
Mrs. J. P. O'Dell, wife of the weli-known
banker, Mrs. Caroline Corbin, wife OF
Lieutenant Colonel Corbin, Mrs. Elizabeth
Gray, wife of Judge Gray, Mrs. G. F.
Briggs, Mrs. Cornelia McEvry, Mrs.
George w. Smith, Frances T. Higgins
and Isabel A. Gall.
The following extracts are taken from
Busy in the cares Of their homes, women have
neither time, strength nor inclination to
enter the public arena and defend them
selves against doings which they earnestly be-
lieve to be pernicious and destructive Of the
homes.
The French revolution is reviewed and
authorities cited to prove that woman
suffrage would result in the degradation OF
the sex. Instances of communistic so
cieties, ETC., are instanced with an i'm
piled destruction of the family relation.
The petition adds:
When women share with men the burden OF
labor and government, communism, with all
that II implies, Is already begun We regard the
question of property rights OF women compar-
atiyely a. one of more importance, compared
with the vastly greater right OF women in gen.
eral to maintenance and protection In the home,
while they are engaged in the absofbabing
offices and duties OF womanhood. and this para
mount right OF woman IL threatened
with entire destruction BY the socialistic
doctrine above citeu. We expect you to remem-
Der that above all human laws 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 difference
between the powers and privileges of the sex,
to disregard which is to involve the penalties
with which they are relentiessIy enforced.
France could not override these laws. but fell
political body in this country has attempted to
do so it has suffered defeat, and we believe that
no greater misfortune can attend the forming of
q labor party Of this country in It's attempt to
artisan and laborcr than that it should espouse
the false and pernicous doctrine of the political
rights OF women.
We pray, therefore. that, no matter what argu-
legislators for the commonwealth 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
and wife as one flesh for the orderly bearing and
rearing OF children and the maintenance Of So
ctety, and has given to each his own distinctive
and equally honorable share in the labors and
The ladies. in conclusion, say they have
held council with many women in differ
ent parts of the state, and feel assured that
the petition represents the wishes of an
overwhelming majority of the women of
Illinois,