The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-02-15
WIVES OF DISTINGUISHED MEN.
Of Little Help to Husbands Politically
Ambitious.
A Leading Kentucky Statesman Gives
His Opinion on Woman's
Right to Vote.

While in Lexington, Kentucky, a few
days ago I had a talk with one of the
leading statesman of the Commonwealth
One who was conspicuous in National
affairs before the war. Stepping from
one point in conversation to another, we
finally touched on the debatable grounds
of "woman's rights.''
''Do you believe that women should be
allowed 10 voter" 1 asked,
He looked at me in almost indignant
establishment. Finally getting his nor
NAL breath again, he said:
What do you mean, young man?
Should she be allowed to vote? AL
lowed? Why do you use that offensive
word in connection with women? Who
could hinder them, or who would try it,
should they want to vote? Haven't
grown daughters and others nearing the
line of womanhood? Talk of my allow
ing them to do so and SOL Who do you
suppose does the allowing business in
my house? Their old father? Not much.
They are the bosses, and l am ever gladly
ooedient to their directions. Suppose
they should determine to vote? Could l
prevent IL? Or would l try to? No, sir.
II woman makes up her mind to have a
new carpet on the floor, new hat on her
head or a ballot in her hand, she'll get
what she desires, and don't you forget it!
Just think of 1t! Suppose, for instance
the vile, daughters, nleces, etc., of each
laWmaker should come to him and assail
MN with hugs, pattings, kisses and ten
ger purrlngs, and beg for the ballot, how
In the name of common sense, sub, could
he put them oil? When he'd open his
mouth to protest and find it covered with
a soft hand, what could be done? If a
1rown came to his forehead and four or
i've sweet mouths should instantly press
the wrinkles, what's going to become of
that frown? Yes, sir. When woman
takes notion to vote the laws will get a
move on themselves mighty quick to ac-
commodate her,"
But will she ever demand it?"
mo, sir; no, sir. What does she want
with it? She's got more rights now. ten
times over, than has man, Laws are
made for men. Woman is a law INTO
herself If she's a widow, and laws a
claim before the court, it is nearly always
granted her-no: on grounds of justice,
put by right OF her sex. II she commits
crime she's not often punished, unless it
be for the most heinous and atrocious Of
lenses; and II she Is pretty, even then the
jury can't see any guilt in her case.
What woman lacks in justice and right
she takes as privilege"
Ou thlhh clC uOI1 want 10 VOtpI''
"Of course she don't or she would, as
I've explained. Pm talking about wom-
en- In general, of course. Pm also talk
ing OF women in fact. Pm not speaking
of those screechers who are women onlv
by mistake. Take those angular, gristly.
sharp-featured, ugly creatures, whose
mascullnlty appears in everything ex-
cept their dress-among them Won will
ma women who shout for the ballot.
They are usually women who have no
husbands to quarrel at, and SO they take
their revenge in scolding mankind in
general. hey need pantaloons first.
linen the ballot as natural consequence.
These women should rail against nature
for not completing the job when it started
In to make men or them. / have talked
with hundreds OF women on the subject
and L never yet found a woman who
wanted TO vote whose arm wasn't bigger
at the elbow than it was below or above
one with sweet face, fine bust, small
hands and feet and shapely limbs is con-
tent to let politics alone and rule the roost
at home with her beauty and her love.
My vile Is great beauty-in nv eve
though there are lots OF wrinkles in her
lace. asked her one time if she Thought
she'd like TO vote. She was making ap-
pie dumplings at the time. Now. apple
dumplings are something L have ALWAYS
been wonderfully fond of. She laughed
and said: There are three things that
would induce me to vote, viz: If knew
l could be better wife, better mother.
ana improve the quality of my apple
uumplings by so doing, L would like to
nave the ballot the best in the world |
told her her dumplings could not be inn
proved by politics, and that settled the
matter with her for all time.n
DO you think man is assisted in a
political career by having popular
wife ?''
"Yes-ha, ha! Abraham Lincoln, for
instance, owed much of his popularity.
you know, to the great popularity (?) of
Mrs. Lincoln. To be serious, the poular-
lty, or want of it, in a politicians wife.
rarely cuts any figure in the case A
popular wife may really iniure man
more than she can possibly benefit him.
y brilliant woman often knows it so we'll
as to make herself offensive at times.
The very popular woman is often SO only
among the men. With her own sex. she
frequently creates envy, and this envy
may lead to enmity. and a malicious
woman is dangerous thing. 1 have
been in public life, oil and on, for forty
years, and L can't, on the moment, call to
mind an instance where great character
has been indebted to his wife for any
share of his popularity. Mr.. Lincoln
was, of course, more beloved than any
other President. All know how un-
popular Mrs. Lincoln was. She was. by
- Is
credited with being, but still Lincoln
owed nothing to her on account of his
success. andrew Johnson's wife was an
invalid most all the time after he reached
prominence, SO she could have assisted
none in direct way toward his political
pre-eminence. Schuyler Colfax was
phenomenally popular, but if 1 ever met
his first wife, or heard any talk about her
1t has escaped my memory. Mrs. Andrew
Jackson, of course, fiourished long before
entered public life, but knew scores of
people who had known her. She was
more at home in log cabin, with cob
pipe, than she was in Washington society,
and, as matter of course, Old Hickory
won no friends through her diplomacy,
The bachelor President James Blu
chanan, was very popular personally, in
spite of the fact that no woman could saw
or think that she had made him what he
was. Mrs. James G.. Blaine have known
for many years. She is remarkably in
telligent, strong-minded woman, and
possesses much force of character. To
say, however, that she is popular in the
sense the word is usually employed
in Washington would be either
downright lying or, at best, sickly
attempt at flattery. We all know how
exceedingly popular Mr.. Blaine was with
the people of every race, age, sex and po-
litical creed. On the other hand (espe-
cially if the newspaper accounts are in
evidencel, Mrs. Hayes was quite popular.
Her qualities of susvity were not gener-
ally known, however, until after her hus-
band had reached the politicians goal.
Therefore, it cannot reasonably be con-
tended that her popularity helped to win
the great Office he held. Nor can it be
claimed that her popularity, after it be-
came known, enabled him to secure a