The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-04-20
Woman Suffrage and Prohibition


Woman Suffrage and Prohibition.
Published by request.
The following essay was written and
read before the Lone Elm Alliance, in
open meeting, by Miss Josie Weber OF
this county:
One week ago tonight the question
of 'Woman Suffrage was brought be-
fore the lodge and ably discussed by a
number of our members, and, with but
one exception, all agreed that women,
in being deprived of suffrage were
not only being defrauded of their
rights, but were being additionally in
suited by being placed on par with
idiots, lunatics and paupers, and APP
parentIy classed lower, intellectually,
than the negroes. OF course, it is all
right for them to think so. We think
50 ourselves, but does it not seem a
little strange that man, who is pro-
verbally selfish, is for once proving
ing himself so unself1Sh However,
overheard conversation between two
politicians, in Garnett, few months
One of them remarked: 'Well, don't
know as women will be a success in
politics. They won't know enough to
mind their own business, and will
want to run things all their own way.
A woman always does.'' This last was
said pretty savagely. so I fancy he. is
married and his wife has her own way)
The other replied: swell, I don't
know how that will be, but we can see;
that in the course of a few years, wo-
men will have what they call their
rights anyway, and if our party takes
up their cause now, and we all stand
for Woman Suffrage perhaps they
will remember after a while that one
good turn deserves another, and vote
with u.s." I was unacquainted with the
gentlemen, and although I liked some
of their political views, I did not form
very fiattering opinion of them as
men. -
Now, think great number of men
really think it unjust not to give wo-
men voice in making the laws of a
nation she helps to maintain; but. i
believe greater number, like the one
previously spoken of, are ready to give
her helping hand, because they deem
it expedient. =
They want the women's votes to help
their party out, and they think if they
help them they will be grateful enough
to return the compliment. But let me
say-Don't, magnanimous man, o. don't
build castle in the air to tumble down
about your ears. Since you are so wise
as to take that stand, be a little wiser
and go a step farther-put a prohibit
ton plank in your platform. What
woman, who has father, brother, hus-
band or son, willvote firely liquor down
their Threats You say you want
women to purify politics They GER
tainly would be making a very bad
start in that direction by voting with
parties that were afraid to declare
themselves for prohibition because the
whisky element would be against them.
Why, I heard one of our most promi-
nent Alliance men in the county say:
''Oh, we can't indorse prohibition now;
the whisky element will all be against
US ana defeat u.s." And that is not
the only fear of the Populists, but of
Republicans and Democrats.
The Republican party pretends to
have a few temperance principles, but
I have all the curiosity of woman to
know the exact number of votes they
bought with drinks of whisky last fall;
and if we take notice I think we will
find that our county officers ''stand inn
pretty well with the whisky element in
Garnett. So have not much faith In
the temperance of the Republican
party.
Why, I am afraid when woman suf-
frage at last wins the day, these parties
VII be In as bad a straight as the
drunken man IN London station, who
vas clinging to a lamp post and look
ing despairingly after a departing train
which he swished to board and saying
IF Ilet go I'll fall, and If I don't go IN