The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02


the art of organization. The objects for
which it is stated that Miss Willard de-
SlreS the suffrage are the nationalist
ton of business, the abolition of rep
resentatiVe government, the enactment
of prohibitOry laws, the free coinage of
silver. A half million women are will
ling to follow Miss Willard. Can it be
wondered at if there are these tenden-
cieS among representative women, that
cautious men should think the time has
not quite yet come for woman suffrage?
third argument in favor OF woman
suffrage is the necessity for protection. 1t
must be granted that no class can depend
upon any other class for protection of
its interests, however benevolent the 9TH
er class may be. We admit the force of
this argument. 1t is desirable and right
that woman should take a direct share
in government, and this is aim for
which we should work. But the question
now is whether the argument for protec-
ton is strong enough to cOunterval the
objections II does not seem so. The
comparison with laborerS and employers
is not accurate, for women do not form
such a distinct class, and their interests
are to a larger extent identical with those
men. Then they have already achieved
the most important rights without the
lation, higher education. have all been
gained without the ballot. 1t is claimed
that the ballot is needed to do away with
the differences between the wages of men
and women. But as Sidney Webb has
shown (British Economical Journal.
March, 1S9D it is hard to find where the
work of women is really the same 1t is
sometimes inferior in net advantageous
quantity, or by reason of irregularity oc-
casioned by inability to work at all
times. Certain instances are the same
Among the Lancashire cotton weavers
women sometimes earn more than men.
and the same is true in Ireland among
manufacturers of handkerchiefs. Yet the
precedent set in other cases erects a
stdnuaro Oh lIIeIloIliy. ChieL liiloh tttI-ce
must be given to the inability to COM
bine a. fact seen everywhere, which every
one who knows anything about labor
problems mas mad TO confront The ballot
would foster a spirit of independence, but
we cannot see that political franchise
would nave great influence upon wages
We have here a first-rate aid to the train
ing of women for the discharge of politi-
trend is toward woman suffrage. The
training for it must begin in schools in
giving girls as well as boys instruction in
civics, political science, and above all in
ethics of government We must bear in
mind the ignorant voter The time has
long since passed away when reliance is
to rest on the. mere ability to read or
book educatiO The best men in all
countries are now considering whether
the whole system of representation is not
at fault. The basis of geographical dis
tricts, representation by area irrespective
of the character and industry of the peo-
pie, is under criticism Minority repre-
sentation is proposed. A lower house,
whose members shall be elected according
to occupations, has been suggested, to-
gether with an upper house elected at
large. Women would then naturally vote
according to their occupation. Having
experienced the evils of our method of
representation by which bosses rule and
the machinery is uncriticised we cannot
L
that by a change in the method of rep
resentation the evils of ignorant vote
cations be replaced by real ones. Then
all voters would be experts, for each
would vote on matters which concerned
his occupation and men and women
would share alike the duties of govern
ment.
The franchise for woman is an object to
work for, both on her behalf and for the
state. 1t would be for her education
in diSinterestedneSS, as in the family the
interests of the whole family are above
private interests. Our life in the state
should teach us that political life is an
Indispensable step in moral development,
and to deny to woman this expanding
power is an offense against her person.
atty In the state, too. in domestic
life, there is a woman's point of view
~ ~ q - poiI la a..
disruption that threatens It used to be
said that in America any man could rise
above humble aVocations without diff
Guilty But it is now becoming harder
and there are masses who will never rise.
Can't we raise the avocatiOn and raise
the man in it? We must have a new
danger of disruption. We want women in
public life We need woman's power and
genius to preserve peace between the
classes by her sympathy and her genius
for unity The time may come when sec
separate The last campaign showed
latent antagonisms between the east and
future The advent of woman to citizen-
ship may then be our salvation; We
today. And seeing the peril of Industrial
and political divisions we have every rea-
vent of that force which makes for unity.
For woman is a peacemaker. 1t might
be said of her that the rude sea grew
civil at her song, for the rude sea of life
grows civil with her coming. She was the
cherisher of life, so may she be the cher
was the guardian of the sacred fire so
seated in high places she may be the
guardian of the sacred fire that it may
never cease to burn before the world