Middletown transcript., 1894-05-05
CuAUNCEY DEPEw's PROPHECY


| Women VIII Have to wait Yet Awhile
Longer for Their Rights.
Chauncey NJ. Depew has not only
signed the petition praying that the
word "male" be stricken from the Con-
stitption, but he is proud Of having
done so.
Il signed that petition," he said
when questioned on the subject Of wo-
man suffrage, in my very best hand
writing, 1t was very clear and dis
tinct,, SO that lie who runs may read.
And didn't | do right
Mr.. DepeW said this with an air of
such hearty belief in the wisdom and
righteousness of his action and the
cause, that it seemed absurd to men
tion why some people thought him ex-
tremely far from right. But as soon
as it was pointed out that there was a
widespread fear that the ballot would
"unsex women" that the privilege of
citizenship would be exercised by the
less enlightened women of the commu-
nifty, and that numerous kindred evils
were threatening the country, he por-
ceeded to show how utterly mistaken
all the alarmist are.
''The great fear is that woman will
be unsexed," he ssid. "Well, ifa wo-
man can be administrative of an es-
tate and guardian of children, with
out being unsexed, | don't see why it
will unsex her to have a voice
in making laws about property
and children. Women have been
being 'unsexed ever since I can
remember, and they seem to be pretty
good yet. When | WAS a young man, a
woman could earn her living as a dress
maker or milliner with perfect re-
spectability. But the woman who was
a clelk in store, who associated with
men in her business, was properly sup
posed to be on the road to perdition.
But more women have gone into stores
and there isn't any great increase in
Tie number gone to perdition. 1t is
always the cry whenever there is any
broadening of woman's opportunities
and responsibilities, she will be un-
sexedI But the fears of the conserva-
tives have never yet been realized.
Women are engaged in every one Of
the occupations which it was once
maintained would render them ut
terly unwomanly, and they are women
STILL"
but how about the claim that only
the lower classes of women would vote
and that thus the country would be
still more under the sway of ignorance?"
Mr.. Depew was asked when he had
paused for breath after demolishing the
"unsexed'' theory.
1.-The lower c!asses?" he said. "We
have no lower classes in America. And
if tenement-house vote did outnumber
the broWn-stone vote, what of it? 1
am not sure that the judgement and
opinions of the one class are not as val
liable as those of the other. But it
would not be SO if there were any real
crisis, any real fight. The women who
have education and the habits born of
cultured lives would turn out in quite
as full force as less fortunate women
who are supposed to be more swayed
by prejudice and passion, if any great
question were to be decided. They
are not SO apathetic and Indifferent as
they do themselves the injustice of
thinking. If women voted and there
was fight against Tammany Hall in
progress or.any real issue of that sort,
Murray Hill would show as much
vigor in the matter as the tene-
"But the anti-suffragists say, that
there would be family dissension-that
would be divided against
themselyes2"
"Well," smiled Mr.. Depew, "tLey
have school suffrage in Massachusetts,
and wives haven't ceased to speak to |