Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-15
WOMAN WITH A CAPITAL.

Marion Harland, in the North Amer
lean, thinks that woman with capital
letter should by now have ceased to be
a speciality. Her reasons are: l, she is
in full possession of her own individu-
ality; 2, every door at which woman
has knocked has been unbolted; 8,
more men are willing to share the
responsibility of suffrage than there are
women who are willing and ready to
accept the franchise. She considers
the war over and thinks we should now
work together as human beings instead
of organizing woman's corporations for
every conceivable purpose which prove
our unlikeness instead of our equality.
Woman is in possession of her own in
dividuality only when it is acknowl-
edged.
A great statesman wrote book cover
ing the period of the Civil war, which
from preface to finis gave no token of
knowledge of the existence of woman.
Did he acknowledge her individuality?
Political platforms acknowledge her
nonenity. An orator makes glowing
address before organizations of both
men and women and uses the term
heroes, citizens and patriots in connec-
ton, which does not even by implication
include women. A great church after
years of strife decides that her laity
have rights which ministers and bishops
are bound to respect under the head of
lay representation. Years after lay
representation is established women
noted in the world of reform for the
degree of individuality they have at
tanned are sent as lay representatives to
the conference of that church and
denied their rights as delegates. Good
enough for prayer, singing and expert
ence; good as cooks for church suppers,
as beggars for the preachers salaries,
but only abnormal creatures in the
| church world, neither clergy nor laity!
That is one of the doors at which
women have knocked and which will
not be unbolted till the pressure from
outside begins to crack the hinges.
Our co-educational colleges do not
contain both men and women profes-
sors and the older colleges substitute
| for co-education kind of 'Iean-to''
called annex, where women may pass as
strict examinations as their brothers,
but not receive degrees or diplomas.
The last reason is improved, the CEN
sus taker has never been required to
| find how many men were willing tO
share the franchise, nor how many
women were anxious to secure it.
| Millions of names have been sent to the
national capitol seeking for it and the
few men who are willing to consider the
| subject there, does not speak well fol
the willingness of constituents. Sena-
| tor Ingalls, is noted case of conversion
since leaving congress, converted by
some of those Kansas women who have
attained that individuality which Marion
Harland assures Us We all have
Women's organizations will be needful
till men like the brilliant and gifted
Labouchere, of London Truth, quit
saying ''Let women vote! l would
sooner give children revolvers and
razors to play with" Yet organization
NAV be overdone When the work is
directly for men, work directly Will
them, (if they will allow you.) DOM
form a Frances Cleveland influence clul
or Carrie Harrison Republican clut
when you mean Grover or Benjamin
Don't take the holy name of wife anC
mother in vain when the sacred cogno
men of the husband and father is going
to be worn thread-bare, anyway, anC
the truth is so much better than pre-
tense. c. Y. LAYTON.
Richland Center.