The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-06
OPPOSE WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
4 Protest Sent to the Democratic Nn-
tiOnal Convention.

tionaI Convention.
KANSAS CITY. July 5.-Among the
many petitions and memorials sent TO the
Democratic Convention is the following
from women who oppose the extension oil
| the suffrage TO their sex:
| The women of the United States who
are opposed to the extension OF the suffrage
| to their sex desire to present thSir v.gor
Gus protest against the inclusion of n So
called woman suffrage plank In the plat
form OF The National Democratic party.
| This is not the place for an extended ar
| gument against woman suffrage; but before
| declaring in its favor it is proper that as
| men OF practical experience you should ask
yourselves whether the general welfare of
| the community would be advanced il
| women were to enter the field of politics.
and whether their participation in political
| life would be conducive to the well being
of the sex, or of the community at large.
An extension of the suffrage to a very
large body of new voters is q serious step,
and one which should be taken only when
it clearly appears that such an extension
is necessary to the general welfare OF
the community. or that it is called for as
an act of justice to body of citizens who
are suffering some deprivation of their
rights by reason Of present disqualification.
sons exists SO far as the women OF this
country are concerned?
To prove that the general welfare OF the
community would be advanced If women
were permitted to vote, it would be neces-
sary TO show that women would vote more
intelligently or more conscientiously than
men. There is no ground for such belief
At most it could only be expected that the
great body of women voters would be in
fiuenced by the same considerations that
control the political action OF their fathers,
husbands. and brothers, and the only prac-
teal result of extending the suffrage to
women would be to double the present
vote, and greatly to increase the expense
and labor of elections.
Manhood suffrage, in government
where the people rule, is method adopted
for peacefully ascertaning the will of the
majority, to which the minority must per-
force submit Thus is secured a stable
government, while full opportunity is given
for the expression of individual opinion. In
the end the opinion of the majority pre-
walls, because 1t is the majority, and could. |
if necessary. compel compliance with its |
wishes To extend the suffrage to women |
would be TO introduce into the electorate |
a vast non-combltant body, incapable of |
enforcing its own will. II would then be |
possible to have a minority which could |
safely defy the wishes of the majority, |
and thus the fundamental idea Of repub-
lican government might be overthrow.
a general or extensive participation by
women in political life must seriously mod
Ify the social unit of the family as it now
exists. The duties of public life are not
such as can be carried on in the seclusion
If domestic life. The participation of men
in public affairs is not opposed to, but di-
-ectly in line, with their duty of cherish
ng and protecting the home from dangers
which may attack it from the outside, and
such participation can have no such dis
effect upon the home life as
would necessarily follow a like participa-
ion by women.
That the suffrage should be extended TO
women as an act OF justice is fallacy
which has led many broad and intelligent
minds from the paths of common sense j
The very word women suggests at once
certain limitations and peculiarities be-
onging to the sex which demand at the &
lands of men corresponding privileges and I
and as time has progressed
hese have been more and more generally
recognized and more and more freely
iven. Special legislation for the benefit A
I women. based upon the necessities Pc
uliar to their sex, has grown to command
he support of our most eminent and in
elligent statesmen. il
None has been more loud and eager o
DR. the extension of these especial pTivi- +,
,ges to women than those who now seek ;.
D place them upon plane of political
nuality with men. The positiop of these t,
dvocates Of this change is inconsistent o
nd untenable. The general enactment Of
Tvs for the benefit of women has been b
ue to the chivalrous feeling of the men a
no made those laws. that the character "
tics, whereby nature has differentiated n
en and women, call upon men who hold q
lie power, to cherish and protect women b
no bear the burdens. To grant the power
make laws equally to men and women. O,
I'd thus destroy mans sense of RESPONSE al
lity for woman's welfare. would leave G,
lie latter to enjoy only such special privi- G,
ges as she could win by fighting for N
lem and even if women had the unre- h,
ricted right to vote, any struggle be-
seen men and women would be most I'M 81
lual.
We ask that the wishes OF the acknowl- A
ged majority of women in the United
ates who are opposed to the extension
the suffrage to their sex be now re-
ected. and that all mention Of the ex
nsion of the suffrage to them be omit II
d from your platform. .,
This petition is dated July. 1900, and OF
,ned follows: 'e
Mrs. Francis NJ Scott, honorary chair W
an New York State Association Opposed II,
the Extension Of the Suffrage to Wom- ~
T.; Mrs. ]. Eliot Cabot President Massa- aS
usetts Association Opposed to Further -! ~.
tension of the Suffrage to Women: Mrs. ~
roline F. Corbin. President Illinois AS az az
citation Opposed to the Extension of the -, -,
nrage to Women; Mrs r. w Wilbur, NC
esident Oregon Association Opposed to VI
e Extension of the Suffrage to Women: %
8. Samuel Casady. Iowa Association OPP ,,a
sed to the Extension of the Suffrage to
omen; Mrs. C. W. Grfggs, President Ia ~,
ma Association Opposed to the Exten- ~,
N of the Suffrage to Women. -,