The herald., 1896-02-25
Miss Phoebe Cousins Has Lost
Her Enthusiasm
WOMEN LACK MORAL FORCE
Views OF Prominent Female Suffra yist
on Her Sex
and the Women Work too Hari-Shs
Is Partial to Bloomers

and public speaker, has lost faith in the
new woman. In fact she thinks that hel
sex is lacking in some essential moral force
and is not to be trusted with the ballot
Women are not self reliant enough, she
says. and it is characteristic of them to
shirk the responsibility of any mistakes by
falling back on the sex in general.
Although Miss Cousins does not think fa-
vorab!y of the new woman, she is partial to
bloomers and believes that they are just
the thing when properly fitted. Bicycles,
too, are excellent, she says, and were it not
for present sickness Miss Cousins would be
astride wheel and enjoy the lovely streets
and drives of this section.
Miss Cousins has been in Southern Cali
fornia for the past month, and complains
that the object of her visit has not been ac-
complished. This is not to proselyte the
people to her views, but is, on the contrary,
to be cured OF a bad attack of rheumatism.
Miss Cousins work in Northern California
has chiefly been in the interests of the BIZ
metallic leagus,and she has delivered many
speeches. In fact she says she is silver
woman, but her admirers invariably de-
clare that "she's as good as gold," especi-
ally after making telling point against
the goldbugs and Wall street. At Gault,
Colo, Miss Cousins took cold and was
seized with an acute case of rheumatism,
which caused her temporary retirement
from the platform. She has been the
guest Of Rev. Danie! Reed, d. D., at Holly
wood for some weeks past. but at present
is stopping at 537 Maple avenue, where
representative from THE HERALD saw her
yeste day.
Miss Cousins is of medium height, with
dark complexion and hair. A very srrik-
ing feature of the lady's appearance is her
very long. black eyebrows. She converses
freely and goes to the point without un-
necessary words. Her rheumatism is so
severe as to require the services of a
crutch.
"What is the cause of my presence in
Los Angeles? Well, | came here princi-
pally in the hope of being cured of my
rheumatism, but thus far my trip has not
been success. While l am here l will
ladies of the East Side Baptist church.
The subject will be either on the Venezue-
Ian question or Free Silver. The last is
my favorite, though, and have made
many talks in the interests Of the white
metal"
Miss Cousins then spoke at some length
upon the claims of silver, and when asked
o5 W ucT NicWS Ou tuo N0ucZuolhIl t1dttcT
expressed herself as against going to war.
~ believe in the Monroe doctrine being
maintained to a certain extent. 1t seems
to me, however, that if we can tolerate
England next to us and to Alaska, there
is no reason why we should go to fighting
on account of a little strip of malaral
country that is miles away"
"What do you think Of the new
woman?"
II have always claimed that the new
woman is only the old woman improved.
Regarding the question of female suffrage
will say that am not SO enthusa for
it as formerly. I do not believe that
politics that has been expected of her. In
the first trial she had she was found wo-
fully wanting. I refer to the case of the
Republican women of DeEver. They al
lowed the men to throw them into the
breach and use them for the purpose of
accomplishing the defeat of Governor
Waite. At that election in 1894, vast
sums of money were placed in the hands
OF the women managers to conduct the
campaign. The women invited men who
were nOtoriously immoral and corrupt to
make speeches and assist in the fight. The
Denver women showed themselves to be
ungrateful, for it was due entirely to Gov.
ernor Waite that they had been given suf.
frage, and 1t certainly would have been
just for them to have voted for him the
first time If only out of compliment.
Governor Waite had closed all the gam
bling houses and bad resorts, and within
forty-eight hours after his defeat all these
places we're running wide open again. The
influence exerted by the women at that
election was certainly not moral one nor
for the best interests of the community. If
they make such a mistake on the start,
they can sc freely be trusted to exert moral
force in subsequent elections. The action
OF those women cooled my enthusiasm.
do not think that women have been edu-
Gated sufficiently yet as to the use of the
ballot. In fact, think that there is a very
essential quality lacking in woman, and
that is the moral courage to stand up under
any storm they have provoked. They are
too ready to shirk responsibility and be
shielded by the rest of the sex. Woman
will take desperate chances which man
would not. and when discovered will, in
the other women. An illustration of this
is shown in the trial of DR.. Brown in San
Francisco. Miss Blanchard was charged
with having stuffed the ballot box on the
orders of Mrs. Cooper, and when confront.
ed went into Mysteries and had to be car
ried from the hall. Women lack the cour.
age to face the result of their mistakes,
men. But after all the sphere of woman
will be in the home. 1t is natural for every
woman to desire home and also to have
the help of man. l think that she will
look forward to matrimony and the do
mestic hearth in the future as she has done
in the past. OF course a few women suited
to public career will arise. but these will
be in the minority.
"A campaign for female suffrage in
California is to be made shortly, but to tell
the truth, do not believe that the women
are aroused or take any particular interest
in it. OF course you can never tell what
women will do when they get ''who6ped
up" The people of this state appear to
me to live almost entirely for pleasure.
They are selfish. One reason for this no
doubt is the distance from the east. They
get none of the attrition of other states
which are interested in various problems.
People here do not seem willing to settle
down on q slow, steady basis, but want to
Scquire wealth suddenly but of course this is
the result of the old 40 fever. have been
asked by the New York papers to write
something about California. fear will
have to wait till leave the state before
complying, as intend to speak of the dis
advantages as we'll as the good points. 1t
seems to me that your women, especially
on the ranches, have to work too hard"
'Do approve bicycles and bloomers for
women? Why yes am in favor OF any
thing which helps women to get enjoyment
and exercise in the open air and were it
not that / am troubled with lameness,
would. believe, ride wheel too. Now re-
Qarding the boomers. / am in favor of