The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-27

noise of their incoming, and two silk
skirts will grow where there is ore
now.
The matter-of-fac way in which
great problems are referred to this de-
partment would be fattering if they
brought with them any assurance of
ability to furnish the solution. A letter
has just been received asking for an
expression Of views as to woman's
rights, woman's suffrage, their mutual
relation, and the relation of both to
the home and to society. One objection
to discussing these matters is the i'm
possibility of saying anything new con-
corning them. They came into exist
ence in some form shortly after Adam
lost rib, and varying to suit different
conditions have been in existence ever
since. Probably when the heavens
shall roll up as a scroll and the light of
regions beyond be shed directly into the
material universe its first ray will
search out an advocate of woman's
rights, and the music Of the celestial
choir drowo with difficulty the vocife-
ration of her opinions. Another objec-
ton is that people holding certain views
concerning the subject continue to hold
lfeIl. 1ltdSOn cdIHOL shake IL6Ul IOT
eloquence appeal However, the ideas
of an humble individual, while possess
ing absolutely no value in themselves,
can do no harm, so here goes. If
woman desires to vote, 1 cannot think
of an excuse for preventing her, save
the personal regard it is natural for
men to hold toward her. By asking the
privilege of voting she mars a high
ideal, steps into an atmosphere where
the barriers of generation which now
shield her are threatened. If she exer-
cises the ballot these barriers are swept
away. No person of sense would de-
prive woman of her rights. This is
far from meaning that every man of
sense would encoura no her in an ambi-
ton to vote. Women now have every
right, except that of going to the polls.
This would have been given to them
long ago had the best interests of the
nation and of the home demanded it.
Instead of having to seek it, it would
have been thrust upon them. The Su
san 3. Anthonys and Anna B. ShaWs
are not fair specimens. They have none
of the instincts which make women be-
loved of men, lead to the establishment
of the home and gladden. the household
WIFI aHeCllOn lndt increases WIFI
years. Women have a right to defer
ence and protection. Would they for
felt it? They have the right of reigning
queen over the domestic circle. They
have the right of forming their chill
dren into good and useful citizens. In
many instances this carries with it I'M
restricted participation in comforts and
luxuries earned and gladly bestowed by
., T ie, 1T ~
in this joint partnership she should
have equal voice, and usually this is
granted without thought of it being a
concession. In a thousand ways women
are taught that men esteem them.
Even so small a thing as the surrender
of a seat in a street car has it's signif-
canoe. 1t is not because men think
women inferior that they object to the
extension of suffrage. but for exactly
the contrary reason. They do not want
woman to come down from her lofty
estate. They want her to remain where
she is, so that she can remain what she
u.s. In Colorado, a State in which the
average of intelligence is high, the
women can vote as freely as the men.
The experiment has proved a dismal
failure An excess of gallantry, an
overplus of Anthony and Shaw,
brought about the arrangement, and
now the discovery is made that the
women do not care to vote. They are
not interested in politics, and l hope
they will never be. A man engages in
politics only at the peril of his reputa-
ton; he has less to lose than woman. |
If the time ever shall come when the
mothers and wives ask for suffrage |
they will get it. They can have any
thing it is in the power of man to give. |
If they will observe narrowly they will |
ascertain that most a man achieves is |
to enable him to make some woman |
happy. But Shaw can have only a
negative influence, unless in eXcep- !
tional circumstances. She is a preacher,
a lawyer and a doctor of medicine, as
we'll as a lecturer drawing fat stipends.
Yet she has the unspeakable nerve to
mount the rostrum and vowl that in
this country her doWn-trodden sex has
no rights. She is, of course, insincere,
since she cannot be accused Of foolish
ness. No concern need be felt for the
shouting Shaws. They can take care
of themselves But for the true woman,
whatever her station, men have ten
der and. 1 believe, unselfish regard.
Therefore it seems to me all this agita-
ton is superfiuous, that it does no pos
sible good and may easily work i'll. Let
women be as they are-sWeet, gracious,
superior.
Mormonism seems bent on hara-kiri.
A few years ago the laws on the sub
ject became so strict and their enforce
ment so rigid that the Mormon shunted
his superfiuous wives into the back
ground and made pretense that he was
in a state Of single married blessed
ness. Then Utah was admitted as
State, and the followers of Brigham be-
lieved that they were beyond control.
They corraled the stray wives and set
up housekeeping on the old wholesale
plan. Outsiders were not aware Of this.
They thought that reform had been
genuine. Thus the polygamists waxed
| bold, and, not content with herding the
| seasoned wives back to the domestic
| lott IN a If nov