Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

But If she penetrated the lodge, what would
she discover? Simply that the highest OBJ
legation of the Mason Is the protection of
the mothers, daughters and sisters OF
Masons The highest obligation of the
Mason is the protection of the weaker sex.
/ met the wife of Mason on the train
from Chicago some months ago. She had
been robbed of her pocketbook containing
money and tickets. AS soon as she made
il known she was the wife of Mason the
fraternity at Toledo supplied her the means
to come to Omaha, and here | procured,
through Mr., Morse, the transportation to
her home in Nevada.
Some women want political equality and
when the novelty wears off in year or
two, as in Wyoming, only few will care to
vote unless they are paid for 1t. Women
have the right to elect school boards al
ready but out of 5000 to 1000 women in
Omaha only five voted at the last school
election, and yet school government is a
very important matter.
A POLITICAL NOSTRUM.
The agitators of woman suffrage going
about the country proclaiming that the bal
lot in the hands of women will be a cure
for all the ills OF humanity reminds one
of Miss Anthony's Wizard Oil man or Rad
ways Ready Relief. which cures every con-
ceivable disease. document prepared by
the woman suffrage association, of which
100000 have been circulated in the state,
asserts among other things that II you
beating. Now, If any brute of a man
comes home and assaults his wife l think a
rolling pin or a fiatiron in the woman's
hand will go good deal further than any
ballot. Qaughter) There are already laws
enough to punish wife beaters.. They tell
us Blackstone in his English law several
hundred years ago allowed a man to beat
his wife with stick no bigger than his
thumb Let a man do that in Nebraska and
see what the law provides. They argue that
in hn ,fpnt Nf1.rNF D ta
ment of opinion, not Of force but when the
woman wants the wife beater sent TO Jail
how is il to be done without force If he
resists? One of the ladies who spoke on
this stage last week expressed great hor-
ror that the police of New York were all
men. What could they do with women on
the police force?
ABSURDITIES.
1t is alleged, for instance, that woman
suffrage will stop divorce. Now, what causes
divorce? Frequently difference OF opinion
between man and wife. These differences
and vicious tongues or extravagant habits.
When women have the vote there will be
more difference of opinion and more cause
for divorce. At present candidates seek votes
where they can find them, in the saloons,
dives and gambling houses. Give woman
the ballot and she will be compelled to seek
the merchantabe class OF women, who will
sell their votes in Nebraska as they do in
Wyoming. There are 10000 street walkers in
Chicago there are 200 abandoned women in
Omaha, and when we talk OF purifying poll
ties through such cesspool, you Will only
make 1t a great deal more corrupt Let an
honest, honorable man run for office, and
let him be found In confidential confab with
a neighbours wife, or his servant girl, II Is
likely TO cause a little domestic circus be-
hind the curtain. Usaughter) You object
to men getting votes with whisky and beer,
but If woman has the ballot, you will have
y,vtth NHaF fan m md
oysters, and other little incidentals too nu-
merous 10 mention. The bad will not be
content with anything leaz than champagne
and cigarettes. AS the late General Strick-
land once said In a campaign: 1T Is not
morals but votes we are fishing for, and we
are bound to get them where we can find
them"
Now, fellow citizens, do you want to com
pei those who are in active politics to go
to dlsreputable resorts hunting for votes?
DO wives and mothers want their sons and
husbands 10 come In contact with the most
degraded class Of their sex?
Do they want such scenes as take place
in Cheyenne, where women are treated to
cigarettes and champagne by the politicians?
DO you want to make elections more eXpen-
slye? In Great Britain only rich men can
go to Parliament, and but few OF our poor
men can 90 into congress. BY extending the
suffrage to women you would be only in
oreaslng the expenses and adding to the
number OF votes without benehtlng anybody.
/ take II that there are just as good fathers,
sons and brothers as there arc mothers,
daughters and sisters. good deal has been
said on this stage about the tyranny OF men
and oppression OF women, and about the
vices and crimes OF men. We hear nothing
OF tho Vices and crimes OF women. When
q woman goes about shopping, and picks up
a pair OF gloves or a piece OF Iewelry, she
becomes q klsptomsniac, but a man