The record-union., 1896-07-05

business women have gone forth to
take away the natural support of some
other woman. Everywhere, in every
occupation, with the exception of
very few of the harder physical tasks,
they are undertaking men. Womans
wants, obviously. are necessarily
smaller than those of man. The aver
age man looks forward to the hope of
marrying and building a home. He
must, therefore, look forward to nat
ural increase of income. The woman,
having no such concern, is satisfied
with the same wages in 1896 that she
obtained in 1890. She may have per-
formed her work as we'll as, and, in
some cases. better than the man, but
her employer is a factor in a great
world ruled by law of supply and de-
mand, and he cannot be expected to
manage his business on purely senti-
mental basis; so her work is done more
cheaply. Meanwhile, the honorable
work in the home which political equal
ity clubs have stamped as slavery" is
being done by cheap Oriental labor and
idle men are blaming almost every
thing else under heaven for their condi-
ton. The fact is this deprivation of
the natural breadwinner of employment
portends disaster. The plea that
women are compelled to do so is only
another way of saying that the move
ment has already become disastrous to
them. And the statement that the bal
lot for women will cure the disease of
low wages for large work is not true,
because male voters would have put it
to better use in that direction long
ago had it possessed the power of reg
ulating stipend. There is a limit to the
power of Legislatures, just as there is
to the right of others ordering a man to
conduct his own business affairs in
way that is uncongenial or unprofita-
bic 70 him.
The statement that the new era for
woman has relieved her of the neces-
sity Of marrying for support and that
she can now await the coming of the
ideal man with complacency is met by
the fact that suicide, drunkenness, di-
vorce and general domestic unhappi-
ness have not decreased since the ush-
erng in of this period of breadth and
light.
AS a fourth proposition we aver that
altruism, the ruling principle in the
iocdi iiOiiiS, Is dl d OlStOuIbt IN the
of trade. Women cannot continually
associate with men in the business arena
without uncOnsciously absorbing the
masculine spirit. Man is physically at
least the stronger; he will always be the
| more numerous in the life of the street
consequently he will more strongly in
fiuence her than she him. The evolu-
ZIONIST who understands his subject
knows that we have grown by a con-
tinual contest resulting in a survival of
the fittest and that the altruistic senti-
ment, fostered by religion of some kind.
provides "suprarational sanction for
| that large class of conduct in the in
dividual necessary 10 the maintenance
of the development which is proceed
ing" VIII that altruistic spirit, so nee
essary to growth along right lines be
increased by the entry of women into
places previously filled by men? 1t is
evident that it will not 1t is equally
apparent that women may not serve as
| missionaries to the Commercial cam
| nibals" by throwing themselves into the
contest for place and power. In spite of
the airy theories Of ministers and of
bookish professors who write pro-suf-
Ii III the quiet SeCluSiOU
a university quadrangle, with no ap-
parent thought for things as they are
being demonstrated in hard, practical
everyday life, there is going on a subtle
and almost imperceptible rivalry be-
tween men and women Need I predict
the outcome? Let us quote Schiller
who possesses strong insight on the
subject: Clever women are curious be-
ings. When once they leave their own
appointed sphere they soar to nights
above with amazing rapidity and with
quick prophetic glance But then they
lack mans strong powers of restraint,
that iron courage which opposes a stern
resistance of every obstacle and enables
| him firmly to proceed ON his course.
Weaker woman has let go of her first
| sublime standpoint and must inevitably
| become either ridiculous or unhappy"
| Society is in need of more ''mothering. -
and 1T will not get it by leaving the home,
| the manhood factory to the care of
governess, cook and housemaid. The
| mothering society has received in the
past by women who gave birth to the
| thousands of brave and true men is a
very superior quality of mothering that
| full article. The fact that prostitution
OF mind and body in this country since
| 1913 has not decreased is evidence that
| this maladjustment, this failure to rec
ognize a just division of labor and re-
sponsibility and this hodge-podge of
women this and of women that, are. in
| large measure, to blame.
But space forbids consideration OF
every argument in favor of our stand.
There are more and some practical diff
| fcultes that must be met if women
| be given the ballot. Women must go to
| the polls if they vote. In illfavoreo
| localities they will have to travel a long
| distance, often through mud and snow
| to the polling place. The father must
go, too and if the children are small
| they must go as well or be left at home
| with some other voting citizen.
| Again, stability in government vii,
not be enhanced by allowing our tickle
sex to vote. The records of those places
where she has voted show greater fiuc-
| tuations than in places of equal popula-
| ton where manhood suffrage alone pre-
walls The spectacle Of political duties
unfulfilled has a bad effect on the ris-
! ing generation. Men are derelict in this
duty already. Let us not, therefore, in
crease uncertainty in legislation.
If the statement be made that hus-
land and wife will do their own think
| rg and part company on political is
sues if necessary, will not this difference
| lead to bitterness and discord in the
hcme? On the other hand, if it be said
! that they will pretty generally vote
| alike. then we ask, where is the use of
| increasing expenses by giving womaE
| 4 doubtful privilege unable to affect the