Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-01-17
DON | Want BALLOT
Society Opposed to woman's Suffrage
Issues an Address to the
Northwest.
1t Sees Only Harm in the Agitation
For Equal Suffrage For
Women.
Able Argument Against Elective
Franchise For Weaker Sex
Text of the Address.

Chicago, Jan. 17.-The Illinois Asso-
citation Opposed to the Extension of Suf-
frage to Women issued today the fol-
lowing address:
In view of the vigorous campaign in
augurated by the advocates of woman
suffrage in the middle and far west.
with the intent and purpose of adding
other states to the four already allow
Association Opposed to the Extension of
Suffrage to Women begs leave to sub
nit the following statement to the peo-
pie of the northwest:
At the foundation of all opposition To
woman suffrage lies the basic fact that
nature has denied to women the physic-
al strength and endurance necessary to
enforce the ballot. 1t is the concensus
of civilization and science that on this
account women should be excused from
jury duty which is the administration of
the law, military duty which is the en-
forcement of the law, and consequently
from the franchise and legislative duty,
tIlt- iIidhlHS VI III
We believe this Judgment to be fully
in accord with nature, science and COM
mon sense. This is the foundation of
our opposition. Its cap stone is the
equally indisputable fact that nature
has recompensed woman for this lack of
physical strength by bestowing upon
her n fineness of sensibiity, a purity of
sentiment capability of moral exalt-
Gt Il
most important duties that devolve up
on mankind. Great is the power of law,
but finer and higher and farther reach
ing is the power of love, and it is as the
exponent of this divine. immortal prin-
ciple that woman stands before the
world In her capacity as the minis
trant of man, holding ever before his
eyes the high ideals of devotion, self
sacrifice and undying affection, as the
priestess of motherhood and its divine
and tender ministries, as the watchful
guardian of infancy and the noble in
sniration of unfolding youth. we believe
her duties rank far above those of the
ordinary aw-maker, and restore the
balance otherwise lost by her physical
weakness. And between these two eX-
tremes lie unmberless considerations of
practical eXpediency, which contribute
to form, as we believe, an inpregnable
position as against woman suffrage.
Furthermore, rights may be equal,
though not identical. 1t is the funda-
mental and fatal defect of the theory of
equal political rights for men and wom-
on, that it ignores those differences of
function which the Creator has made
inseparable from the specialization of
sex. Physically speaking. paternity in
wolves no after nor correlative expert
ences, while maternity necessarily af-
fects the whole warp and woof of a
woman'S being. physical, mental, and
moral, for long periods of time, and
since a nation is moriDund when its
death rate is equal To, or greater than
its birth rate, it follows, that woman s
services to the state are not the same as
mans, though of even more vital inn
portance. Monogamic marriage is the
effort of society to constrain man to
bear his just and proper share in the
rearing of citizens. and the attempt to
shift any part of the burden allotted tc
him in this arrangement to the shoul-
ders of the woman, is a manifest and
fragrant injustice against which VT
hereby enter our emphatic protest.
In fact, the whole modern movement
to place woman on an Independent pa.
sis, so far as man is concerned. IS W.
believe. in spite of some incidental adj
vantages which have accompanied 1t. {
movement backward toward the orig
inal industrial slavery of woman From
this primitive condition our present in
stitutions have been evolved by the SLOW
processes of human growth. They hay,
not yet reached perfection. but from
generation 10 generation their progres:
tends toward purity, self-sacrifice ant
higher spiritual attainments. The at
tempt TO turn the course of progress
backward by confusing the rights an,
duties of the two sexes we believe to b
one of the greatest dangers which MEN
ace the republic.
We say this in no disparagement o
the many excellent women who hay
thought they saw in woman suffrage
beneficial enlargement of the sphere an,
opportunities of woman. We recogniz
the purity of their motives, but we be
lieve they have not thought out to tn
end the tendencies and conclusions o
the movement they have espoused.
A man is known by the company i,
keeps; so is a mo:omeus. and strang
indeed have been the political compan
ions of woman suffrage. Leaving ou
of the account as a youthful indiscre
tion its early ENHANCEMENT with tn
cause of free love. 1t is at present i
Utah the. tool of Mormonism. which ha
already elected a polygamist to congres
by its aid. In the south west it ha
fraternized with populism. 1t is closel
allied with the political fortunes of pre-
hibition, and from first to last has beer
and still Is, necessary and structure
part of that form of socialism. whic
seeks the destruction of all existing il
stitutions. Not one of these theories ha
the sanction OF the American people
not one of them that is not felt to be ar
tagonistic to the best good of the con
monwealth. Why then should woma
suffrage be looked upon as a reform,
stepin advance in the march of civiliz;
ton? Why should It not be classed wit
and treatedslike Its friends and allies?
The suffragists claim that the admi
sion of women to the polls would purii
politics, but there are those among the
leaders who openly and boldly annount
that the women's vote wifi be cast +,
whatever barty arst admits their clair