Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-04-08
poLlrlcAL nouaE cLEANINa.
Practical Reasons Suggesting Woman's
Right TO the Franchise.

Right TO the Franchise.
The signs of the times are in
deed hopeful when IL is no longer
deemed necessary that man in
order TO attain political distinction
must select a silly or ignorant COM
panion. IL is the help-meet now
that is needed; one that is COM
pe.ent to sit in judgment while he
yeads or rehearses to her his best
orations, or one even who can help
to form those magic sentences.
Nothing so enhances her capacity
to do these things as liberty.
When reading the inaugural ad-
dress of the new Chief executive
of the grand United States il
sounded fair and patriotic. and |
thought what a pity whom women
are endowed with intelligence and
stirred with patriotism, that they
are not considered people when il
comes to choosing these rulers. If
political and religious freedom is
so degrading to her sex, why not
elevate her to the highest pinacle
by putting her in slavery The
Arab or fellah peasant that COM
pels his wife TO pull the dull wood
en- pillow while he acts as driver
does not feel any more superiority
in being more capable of guiding
this rude manner of tilling the soil
than his near relative who insists
that women should have no voice
in church affairs, and that he alone
is sufficiently endowed with brain
power to vote, even II that vote
should go to perpetuate an evil,
vile traps to entsngle her son, so
soon as he has emerged from the
nursery to the street. But men
with gray hairs will say let such
things alone, why need you care?
Our little FIVE year olds think the
same things when they wish to
wade in a pond that we know is
over their heads. That is what
God made US for-to care. II is
the same impulse only more high
ly developed, that causes US to re.
move from their play ground
broken pieces of glass, or bits of
boards with sharp or rusty nails
protruding. So long as women
fight the saloon as though they
were a spontaneous growth and
only needed to be moved down,
our labor will be in vain; they are
deeply rooted and embedded in the
law. An over Jealous minister Of
the gospel of high repute in this
country said that politics was de-
grading that he had not voted for
fifteen years. "Whatl ! said, did
you allow licensed saloons to come
and you offered no protest." "I
thought" he said cit not minis
tsr's business" Then l said you
and every other man of like mind
should quit preaching fifteen years
and vote and lecture against cur
rent evils for that length of time.
He went on to say that women
would be degraded by the ballot.
"How would you like for women
to be accosted at the polls by how
are you Sail, or Liz or Fan"
"Would you address us in that
manner2' / asked. "Oh no, +" said
he. "Do you think any gentle.
man would2" "No, l do not, he
frankly answered" Then, | said,
we have no. fears, for there are
enough gentlemen 10 Keep tnlngs
quiet, we think, or il it is so bad
as that, women should be impor-
tuned to come and help preserve
the dignity Of the law. There ID
no danger that women will covet
the field Of politics, no more thar
she will wish to break wild horse:
or build a house, but the "politi.
cal house, is in sad need OF clean,
ing, aud everyone knows tha
house cleaning is something tha'
women delight in. Our brotherI
need fear no uneasiness that WON
en- will capture sll the offices. 4
woman for mayor may some times
be for the best, but they will nevel
be in startling numbers. Three
years ago l was appointed to thu
field of woman's franchise, but fo
fear of Herod's sword have KEEP
it hid only at home. We hav'
had a medal contest here on Wd
mans Franchise Women vot'
here by courtesy, are put on com
mittees and are respected the sam'
as ever. Now this child Of prog
ress, like Moses of old, is growing
and crying, and l cannot concea
it longer, so like Miriam, plac,
il in the ark OF woman's mothe
love and launch it on the grea
river of public sentiment, while
watch from the bank praying tina
a prince may come and adopt it
and that woman may be lead on
of this bondage to the Canaan O
freedom. Mrs. JULETTA JoRDoS,
Superintendent Of franchise fo
medal contests OF Indian Terri
tory, Ruby, 1. T.
-
The Chelsea Murder.