The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-06-01

Atlantic ocean. With the ballot her
strength will enable her to make q
purer home for herself and for her
children.
You may say that it is degrading
for women to go to the polls to vote.
Why should it be degrading? Fran
els E. Warren, Ex-Governor of Wy
oming says: "Woman suffrage has
not lowered the grade of public off1ci-
ais in this territory. On the contrary
our women consider much more care
fully than our men the character of
the candidates and both political par
ties have found themselves obliged to
nominate their best men in order to
receive the support of the women.
Our women nearly all vote, and since
in Wyoming, as elsewhere, the major
ity of women are good, not bad, the
result has been good and not evil"
The Rev. Mr.. Moore says: "WO-
men are just as good wives, sisters
and daughters as before, and are as
good voters as the men and no I'M
pleasantnesses are made in the FAM
ily."
Chief Justice Roger Greene, when
asked for his most recent view of wo-
men suffrage in the State of Washing
ton, made this reply: 81 answer that
I am more and more pleased with the
fundamental excellence of it. Not a
single i'll consequence as yet appears:
At the inception of their rights to
vote, our women were mostly ignor-
norant of its significance and worth
and were not fully aroused to the ex-
erise of it. But as they became more
generally and better informed of the
power and use Of the ballot they priz-
ed it. Indeed many of them seem al
ready to esteem it more highly than
the average man does, and there are
good reasons for their superior appre-
citation. do not think one well in
formed woman would be willing to
give up her vote. But the most sig
nal effect of the new system is the
prominence into which it brings NOR
al considerations as determinative Of
political measures and candidates.
This is what is giving us at munich
pal elections reliable majorities in ia
vor of pure and orderly administra-
tions. 1t is with the woman as if in
regard to every question she asks:
Has this any, and if any, what, bear
ing upon the home? AS if everything
possible should be determined by this
ratio,-as it is good for the the home
so it is for the commonwealth. Hence
as rule, the wonderland the conta-
gion of their course affects the men
also-show themselves decidedly
reckless of party lines and personal
preferences.
Their hearts seem set on getting
the best laws and the best admins
tration of them.
Man is moved by woman's compan-
ionship, her presence in politics as
everywhere is purifying, ennobling
influence. Considerations which es-
cape him but for her presence occur
spontaneously and become motives
decisive of his Judgment. No debas-
ing effect is discernible thus far"
These are decisive words based up
on experience in sections where wo-
men exercise the right of suffrage.
And why will it degrade her or unfit
her for her home any more in other
sections than in Wyoming and in
Washington? But still some men say
woman is too good to 60 to the polls
and they think too much of her to let
her stoop to such a thing. But they
do not think of this as she uses the
broom, lifts the wash tub and splits
the kindling wood, but then, of course
she is working for her husband. And
woman is not too good to go to Jail,
and to be tried for the gallows. She
must suffer the penalty OF law, but
she has no right to help frame it.
She must keep silent for laws are
made for her, she is VIRTUALLY repre-
sented." Ii women are represented
when was the choice made? Nobody
pretends. that they have ever been
consulted. 1t is a mere assumption
to assert that the interest and affec-
tions of men will always lead them
to just and wise legislation for women
as well as for themselves.
Mems aims and methods are in
many respects unlike those of women.
anu they have fully represented only |
their own tastes, inter ests and occupa.
tions.
1t was not until recent years and |
after the most continued and self-sac- |
reflcing efforts of such noble women |
as Frances Willard and Susan B. An
thony, that women have forced atten-
ton to their pleas, and have wrested |
necessary privileges from the hand Of
their self appointed guardians; every |
step in the gain recorded has been
challenged and contested by the
stronger sex to be granted at last by
the concessions of a meager majority.
How well woman has used the privi-
leges-educatiOnal, business and po-
litical-her eager and practical posi-
ton in the intelligent and successful
ranks of the worlds workers. attests.