River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-01-04
Vicarious Voting.

Young woman il the o. you are to
marry can represent you at the polls he
may at the altar. He can say to tho
minister MARY Brown has agreed to
marry me but she believes women
should be home keepers and pre- fers
that should represent her here and
Everywhere. / want you should pro-
nounce us man and wife,
lie may TepI asent you also at the
communion table and when he has
joined the church you have, though
the fact that you believe in Baptist
doctrines and he in Methodist, may
ne little confusing at first; but any
woman who can believe her husband
represents her at the polls will soon
get used to that little difficulty. for
she must have, either no interest in
public affairs, Or no faith in our form
II representative government. Last
fall woman, who had read ane
studl ID the platforms. and listened t.
speakers on all sides. wished with al,
the fefvor of IA whole idividual to vote
the peoples party ticket, her husband.
loving and devoted, was a Republican
She expressed her wishes to use her
irthright that November morning, Al d
~ said Il don't care SO much about
Voting as you do, tell me how you
would like to vote and will vote for
you" That was kind aad generous
hut the only possible way for man
to throw away his own vote. She said
No, | won't rob you. want you to
vote as your conscience dictates 10
you, not as mine 10 me"
During the Greedy campaign. lady
who did not believe in voting, who
aid she had no time to prepare her
1elf for the duties of voter, persuad-
I'd her husband against strong con
siction to vote for Grant instead of
freely Did she ever realize that she
IN her busy unprepared condition bad
voted and her, husband mad lost his
votel Yet many men prefer this
childishness, they feel glow of It's
faction with themselves at having
been so kind, they would rather be
generous occasionally than continual
ly When men and women have
learned that the ballot is not 10 sell,
20 give away, nor to tie up in a nap
kin to lay away, but to keep bright
with use, we shall hear less about the
iirt of politics. The highest earthly
good is reached when husband and
wife are one mind IN solving the prob
ems of life, and in those exalted mo
song or oratOry, does it not double
your joy to meet her responsive
dance, kindled like yours! When
warmed by party Zeal or allame with
patriotism (not . lost art) would it
:Ool your ardor to know that she too,
vas responsible citizen, alive 20 her
opportunities!
An, but that is it says another Il
voted this fall for "a won an for school
commissioner, but don't know as /
shall again until the women wake mp
10 their opportunities. My dear sir
are you quite sure you are awake to
yonr own opportunities! Teach
women for years that they must not.
cannot vote, then press them the first
hing into voting for Il woman. Sure
ly women should have some appren-
ticeship in politics before aspiring to
responsible office; no wonder women
hesitate about risking their political
equation. Then, too, in New York
where this occurred some OF the circuit
judges have pronounced wOman's vote
IN school matters unconstitutional and
there is not a woman in New York
rash enough to lay profane hands
on the sacred constitution.
Your opportunity, is to make it all
light with the constitution.
Women are nothing if not law abid
ing. G. V. LAYTON.
Richland Center, Wis.