Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-13

| tend the suffrage to women, 1t would be
| manifestly impolitic and unjust for the
other states to attempt to coerce the mi
nority on question dependent upon the
expression of public opinion alone.
There would seem therefore to be no
possible justification for the effort now be-
Ing made to secure federal interference with
the reserved rights of the several states. Sc
far as the reasons given by the petitioners
are purely sentimental they should have no
weight in so serious a matter as amending
the Constitution Of the United States. The
mere fact that this amendment is asked as
compliment to the leading advocate of
woman suffrage, on the attainment of her
eightieth birthday, is evidence, of the emo
tional frame of mind which Influences the
advocates of the measure, and which is
scarcely favorable to the calm considera-
ton that should be given to fundamental
political principles. With all the admra-
ton which is felt for the vigorous charac-
ter and consistent effort of Miss Anthony,
II Is absurd to suppose that the complicated
machinery required to be put in motion in
order to amend the Constitution of the
United States, should be started because
this venerable woman has achieved length
OF days and enjoys the respect of SO many
persons.
We are convinced that what Is termed
right Of suffrage is rather duty to be
performed, and duty of such nature
that women are disqualified for many rea-
sons from assuming this responsibility. We
feel that the exemption of women from the
performance of this duty is a privilege
which they are not prepared to surrender
and which has been conferred upon them as
compensation for limitations and duties
imposed upon them by their sex, and which
cannot by any possibility be transferred to
the domain of masculine service. We know
that women are physically unable to per-
form the duties which men are compelled
to perform under every well-regulated gov
eminent. The enforcement of law involves
not only the performance of jury duty but
last emergency arpn ont pf
military force, in neither of which can
women discharge the responsibility of act
ual service
mo better Illustration of the difficulties
Whlch would arise in case women were en-
lowed with the duties of suffrage can be
presented than the situation which has so
iately existed in the state Of Kentucky.
Imagine women taking part In the strife of
that state, involving Instruction, riot,
bioodshed and assassination as the conse-
quences OF political dispute. If either one
or the claimants of the office of governor
mad been woman, 1t Is perfectly obvious
that confusion would have been worse con-
rounded, and that in the last resort under
the Constitution, the federal authorities
would have been paralyZed by the necessity
for using military force against the women
OF the state. The word chaos alone gives
adequate expression to the state of affairs
winch would have existed in Kentucky If
the women. as well as the men, had been
compelled to take part in the unhappy con-
troversy which has convulsed that state
and might have entangled the general gov
eminent in its solution"
Miss BisselPs Argument.
Miss Bissell spoke especially of the re-
SUITS OF woman suffrage in Colorado and
read several letters from men and women
IN that state in opposition to the proposed
amendment. She said that in Colorado
women stuff ballot boxes as readily as
men and say they ARE no worse than the
men, The purity of the ballot claimed by
advocates OF the amendment from the votes
OF women had not been realized. In Colo
raoo Where there Is woman suffrage the
mliiennlum was no nearer at hand than
elsewhere. In all the four states where Is
woman suffrage the population Is 100, 600
less than Chicago alone, SO that the ques-
ton had not been fairly tested yet.
On the House Side.
Promptly at the hour. Judge Ray Of New
York. chairman of the House committee on
the judiciary. took his seat at the head Of
the table in the committee room. and
grouped about him were Judge Jenkins of
Wisconsin; Judge Overstreet of Indiana,
Judge Alva Alexander of New York, Judge
Warner of Illinois, Judge iLittlefleld of
Maine, Judge De Almond of Missouri,
Judge Lanaham Of Texas, Judge Elliott Of
South Carolina, and Judge Underwood of
Alabama The room was packed to the
sunocatton point by the members of the
convention who desired to hear the pre-
sentatton of their case to the judiciary
committee In the hall outside were the
five remonstrants. or anti-suffragists, who
mad pleaded for hearing during the time
given the suffragists.i This Judge Ray
stated. he had absolutely refused. as he
| the suffrage association that the commit
| tee would give them two hours on this day