The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-05
A Partial Explanation by Banker
Heggelund Of the McPher-
son Mystery .
The Republican State Central Committee
of Illinois Straining Every Nerve
10 Elect Streeter.
a Horrible Massacre Reported from Mad
agasoar The Trans Missouri .Asso-
citation Meetihg-The Oklahoma
Political SquabbIs Settled
by the Court-Notes.

SPRINGFIELD, Ills, March Am inter
esting petition has reached the members of
the Illinois general assembly. 1t is signed
| by some Of the best known of Chicago
society ladies, and is a protest against
the bill extending municipal suffrage 10
women, and denouncing as false and per-
nicious all attempts to secure legislation
in that direction Among the signers are
Mrs. j. ]. p. Odell, wife OF well known
banker; Mrs. Caroline Corbin, wife of
| Lieut. Col. Corbin, U. S. A.; Mrs. Eliza
beth Gary, wife of Judge Gary; Mrs E.. +.
| Griggs, Mrs Cornelia McAvoy, Mrs.
| George w. Smith, Frances I. Higgins and
| Isabella A. Gait.
The following extracts are taken from
the petition: "Busy in the cares of the
home, women have neither the time,
strength nor inclination to enter the pub
lie arena and defend themselves against
the doings of a comparatively few women,
which they earnestly believe to be per-
nicious and destructive of the true power
The French revolution is reviewed and
authorities cited to prove that woman
suffrage would result in the degradation
of the sex
"We regard the question of property
rights as one of minor Importance, COM
pared with the vastly greater right of
women in general to maintenance and
protection in the home while they are en-
gagged in the absorbing offices and duties
of womanhood; and this paramount right
of woman is threatened with entire de-
struction by the socialistic doctrines
above cited. We eXhort you to remember
that above all human laws stand those
great natural laws inherent in the uni
verse, which no man or body Of men can
contravene, and that these laws have for
ever established difference between the
=
regard which is TO invoke the penalties
by which they are relentlessly enforced.
The French revolution could not override
these laws, but fell crushed under the bur-
den. In so far as any political body in this
country has attempted to do so, it has suf-
fered defeat; and we believe that no greater
misfortune can attend the forming labor
party of this country, in its attempts to
secure legislation in the interest of the
farmer, artisan and laborer, than that it
espouse the false and perniciOus doctrine
of the political rights of women.
"We pray, therefore, that no matter what
argument to the contrary may be urged
upon you, as legislators Of the common.
wealth you will stand fast by that ancient
bulwark of liberty, the home. And re-
member that the same power which says
to all men: Behold God is your father
and all men are your BRETHREN has Joined
also the husband and wife as one flesh for
the orderly bearing and rearing of children
and maintenance of society, and has given
to each their own and distinctive and
equally honorable share in the labors and
rewards of life"
In conclusion, the ladies say that they
have held counsel with the women in all
parts of the state. and feel sure that the
petition represents the wishes of an over
whelming majority of the women of