The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-12
Butte Department.
MISS LEWIS VIEWS
The Actress Talks on the Question 0
Woman Suffrage.
THIS FOREIGN DOWRY FAD
Il Is Degrading and Disgusting
"One True Woman Is Worth a
Whole Continent of Titled
Men"-Male Apparel.

Men"-Male Apparel.
Lillian Lewis has some original ideas
on the question of woman suffrage,
and an article on that subject in the
Standard few days ago attracted her
particular attention.
American women have done more
for the beJterment of the world than
the women of any other nation, indie
pendent of nationality or religion"
said Miss Lewis. during an interview
with her at her hotel last evening.
That this is so is largely due to
American men. who without the big
Gifted old worlds opposition to the
emancipation of woman. have given
her mental and physical scope-room
to embark in and carry to completion
the noble work which none but the
women of a nation can accomplish
the beutermenlt of physical and moral
and as a result. the mental condition
of men and women
'~rhe American woman. be she ma
tive born or foreign born. has more
liberty TO do what she thinks right, Is
less fettered by the domineering quail
ity of man. than the woman of any
other country. This applies equally
to the young girl. the young woman,
the wife. and the mother. and as a
result of this self-governing quality,
she is more self-respecting and more
honest and has more character and in
tegrity than her sisters of other coun-
tries.
The reliance and confidence which
the American man. native or foreign
born. has placed in the daughter, sis
ter, wife or mother. has brought about
this character and integrity, and has
made woman the upright, straight-for-
ward. fearless and devoted creature
that she is. has made her an ornament
to her country and herself, the pride
OF her confiding. trusting brother, hus-
band or father. and "a grace to moral
society.
American women are patriots and
heroes, and they have given proof OF
patrio tism, from the infancy OF this re-
public TO it's present day. solidity as
intellectually stamped on the character
of this nation as the patriotism and
heroism of it's great men patriots and
heroes. That this is so is not the fault
of atm osphere, of climate. or OF water.
1T is due to the men who have placed
the happiness of home and country on
the conscience of their better selves,
their women. and given them the right
10 think and do righ. as 1t appears to
them.
efficacy of religion. 1t is the greatest
factor in the progress of civiliza DION,
and there can be no questioning of the
fact. that woman has been and is the
permanent rock. the unmovable force,
which has w1thstood all the assaults
hurled at religion. and made religion
an Interchangeable fact. the abiding per-
manency OF which is as assured as the
plan of the universe. and will remain
so while woman. the Lords messenger
of love and mercy. graces earth.
I'VE have now a new phrase. the
New Woman. The term Is new, but
the woman is not. This same new
woman of TODAY existed always-and
always had the present womans de-
sires, hopes. ambitions and longings.
The new thing about the present day
woman is her courage. and her courage
is the outcome of time. and the trust
of man. Woman was not intended,
and never did. and does not now, real
ly wish to be a prohibition preacher.
nor does she wish to wrest from man
her right to vote. No. woman does not
want this any more than she wants to
be a soldier or policeman.
what woman really wants in her
wish for equal rights is. first of all,
the privilege OF having a voice in the
legfslating for the benefit of her chill
dren. and after that a voice in legis-
lating for her sex. and that she is en-
titled TO. and will receive. because 1t
Is fair and just and right she should.
There is no more Justice i'm men alone
making laws TO govern men and wo-
men. than there would be i'm woman
alone making chem. No. men and wo-
men exist. and laws for their joint
government should be made by them
jointly and / am not afraid TO say that
when women have a voice in the MAX
ing of laws. men who squander wages
in drunkenness and dissipation, which
should buy bread for the hungry stom-
achs of their children. will not exist,
and there will not only be no fallen
women. but the term will become OBJ
solete. and property and life and the
stability OF home will be more secure,
for woman's influence in law will be
OF the same quality as Ii is in church
and at the hearth.
THE Oriental woman chattel and
the European woman. submissive suf-
ferer, Is just as anxious for emancipa-
ton and assertion of her woma nhood
as the most advanced American wo-
man suffragist. This also makes me
think about the custom of dowry prev
alent in Europe and the Orient. and /
regret to say. practiced in practical
America in the Isolated cases OF Amer
II there is anything more degrading
than this dowry business. I want 10
know II. II Is a tacit admission that
the pure. innocent. beautiful girl, Is,
without her money. not worthy of the