West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-02-15
Women DO Not Wish 10 Vote.
nY rLNoRA N. nAncock.

One of the stock objections offered by the
opponents Of woman suffrage is that women
do no want the ballot, that they are con
tented in their present condition and that
they are already overhurdcned with care and
should not have this extra responsibility
thrust upon them.
II is true that great many women say
tha, they do not wish to vote. they have ex
pressed the same sentiment in regard TO
every step in the progress of women, but as
soon as the change is made they are the first
to avail themselves Of its privileges.
When merchant in town in Maine first
employed woman in his store the men boy
cotted the store and the women upheld the
men. When an effort was made to have
women study medicine and Or. Elizabeth
Blackwell dared TO do so, not only did the
men say very severe things about her, but
even the women refused to speak to her.
When the effort was begun to secure equal
property rights for women. many women
said with contempt "Do you suppose would
give myself where would not give my
property ?"
Likewise objections were made by both
men and women when the attempt was first
made for higher education for women. No
longer than thirty-eight years ago when
Vassar College was founded, it was the OBJ
ject Of general jibes and sneers.
Mrs. Lucinda II. Stone, Of Kalamazoo,
Mich, who, with her husband. was chiefly
Instrumental in opening Michigan University
to women, went abroad about that time, in
charge Of a travelling party Of young women
going to visit the Holy Land. Among their
felowpassengers were band of ladies going
on, as foreign missionaries. Vassar was the
topic Of conversation, and public opinion
Eas strongly unfayorable to it. Mrs. Stone
tells how the leader Of the missionary party,
a woman Of intelligence and cultivation,
voiced the general feeling when she said
"The mere fact Of It's being called a college
for women is enough to condemn it, We
may be sure that no refined Christian mother
will ever send her daughter 10 Vassar Col
lege."
In the Eastern cjiies where women are
shut mp IN harems and are not permitted to
appear on the street unveiled women them
selves uphold these restrictions. The
Chinese lady is just as proud Of her small
feet as an American anti suhragist of her
political disabilities.
No great reform has ever been asked for
by the masses; the few more progressive
ones have seen the need and obtained the
change, then the people have grown to the
improved condition.
In the old days Of anti.slavery, opponents
jeered aboliiionists and said ''Why make al
this noise about emancipation; the slaves are
contenied and happy" When asked if
they wished to be free. many said "No,
we are well fed, clothed and sheltered and
all our wants supplied"
But is there anyone who would claim that
these steps in the progress Of the race have
not been beneficial to humanity And yet
the masses Of those concerned in these re-
forms said they did not want them, before
they were established facts.
Practical experience has already shown
this "bugbear' abouf women not wishing %
vote to be an illusion like all the rest. In
che four States where women have full suf.
frage hey vote in even greater proportion
than the men do, and Mrs. Elizabeth b..
Harper, Treasurer Of Colorado State Fedora
tion of Womens Clubs, who opposed the
granting of suffrage to women in 1893, now
says that She doubts If any woman who had
lived where She could vote, would be con.
tent To live in State where she was denied
the right.
u IS the same old story; every step in the
pr grcss Of women from learning Co read
aud write io casting bollot has been fought
against by this same caviliug skcpdcsm