Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-23
ABOUT WOMEN.
The Friday Morning Mem
bers Discuss Their Sex.
Woman Suffrage Argued Pro
and Con.
Features of Yesterdays Meeting of
the Club.
Mrs. Garbut's Arguments for the Fran
ehise = Counter Paper.
Other Matters
Discussed.

The Friday Morning club rooms were
filled to overhowing yesterday morning
when the president called the meeting
to order. There were many guests
present, but none of the members OF the
International Press league. owing to
their very short stay in Los Angeles
The subject of the day-Woman Suf-
frage-was opened by Mrs. Garbut.
Mrs. Garbut is a slight, graceful woman,
an earnest speaker, and was thoroughly
conversant with her subject. She did
did not confne herself to a paper, but
talked most easily and fuently, refer
ing only occasionally to her notes and
statistics.
The chief argu ment in favor of wo-
man suffrage, is that it is simple justice.
Women are one-half of the people, and
in republican form of government the
right and justice of representation can
not be denied. Good results to men
bring good results to women. In the
church, society, school, business and
home men and women work side by
side; in the government combined
effort is quite as necessary.
We will have better laws, higher
hopes and less corruption when both
have a voice in the making of laws.
Women will have good effect on elec-
tions, less bribing, less liquor, more
order, and better candidates. In our
churches rs per cent of the members
are women, in our penetentiaries 20 per
cent are men.
Responsibility develops character. A
broad, intelligent, cultured woman is
better able to rear patriots than one ig-
norant of law and Indifferent to the
struggle of thousands of her sisters
around her.
The ''silent seven" who have no voice
in government are children, idiots, lu-
natics, criminals, paupers, Indians not
taxed and women.
The common sense of the world is
slowly but steadily working around to
belief in woman suffrage. In twenty
three states women have school suffrage.
In Wyoming full suffrage. In Kansas
municipal suffrage. The latter has also
been given to single women and widows
throughout England, Scotland. Canada,
and most of the British provinces.
Women do not cease to be domestic
because they are patriotic and take an
intelligent interest in public questions.
They are only more rational companions
for men and predetermined mothers to
their children.
The next speaker, Mrs. Huber, took
the opposite side of the question. Her
ceived by the club with much en-
thusiasm.
Since the divine words were first
spoken, "Let us make man." and gov
ernment passed from God to man, "Let
u.s." has echoed from all parts Of the
globe, but the us has not inclu ded
women. Thousands of Jezebes, Cleo
patras, Helens and Louisas influenced
for evil, where one Esther for good.
Man does not exercise the vote as a
right, but as a privilege. An early ex-
pertinent of woman suffrage in New
Jersey was abolished with the formula !:
"Whereas, 1t is necessary to safety,
good order, quiet, dignity, ETC."
Authority was crystallized when the
mandate was given, He shall rule over
thee" even carrier than the crystals
language and race. 1t is necessary to
prove our superiority to man to claim
the governing power. We cannot prove
equality because we have no common
standard of measurement. To can
eel common defects and reduce the
mixed virtues of equality requires
a divine arithmetician. Change the ex-
preston which the friction OF business,
politics, etc., imprint on the mems
face give the gentle, cheerful, resigned
look, and it becomes incongruous with
beard, hands and feet. But the woman,
with mans expression, wrinkles and all
even worth would fail to make pre-
senta BILE.
Power leads to oppression and defle-
ment. Why should women be thrust
into corruptipg influences, when it is her
especial sphere to give a heritage of
truth and honor to growing youth ?
Her care, example and influence are
the soil and sun OF the growing human
bud. She has authority in the home,
and can train for highest services. 1t is
not expedient to give women the ballot
for many reasons.
She does not know the machinery
She would hold the balance of power,
and not know how to use it. The ma
iority of the best women would not
wish it.
Men are nominated by party, not by
worth.
The efforts to legislate morality are
not successful Women had better work
for such reforms as the cooperative
commonwealth and West Point offers.
She should attend to the difficulties
of domestic life and let man administer.
She can educate, let him legislate.
Discussion most animated followed
these papers. Mrs. Bowman, former
editor of the Santa Paula Chronicle,
gave little sketch OF the movement in
Kansas.
Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Knight, Mrs
Severance and Mrs. Hubbard joined IN
the discussion. The hour for adjourn
ment came only too quickly and closed
the programme for the day.
Next week Mines. Wells and Tolhurt
will give their papers on the Elizabeth
an Period.