West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-10-02
PLEA FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

DIR. Amos Parker Wilder, editor
of the Madison State Journal, is
strong advocate of woman suffrage.
In recent address upon the SUBJ
ject he said
"Strong is the argument Of
natural right the one fact that
silences objection to equal suffrage
to-day is the competency of the
modern woman for the ballot. Con-
ceding that the right to vote is the
comforting of privilege. not
right concede the inferiority OF the
female mind and her limited sphere
when Bushnell opposed equal suf-
frage. How changed are conditions
to day. Woman at last has a per-
sonality. She is no longer merely
domestic, a dependent on the
head of the house, indeed 3, 600, 600
working women are in no sense
domestic. The sex, once shut out
from the schools, now outnumber
the boys who graduate from our
high schools in the proportion of
seven to two. We grant that they
were once mentally inferior /; per
haps for that reason wisely shut out
fiom the suffrage but in view of
the intelligence of American women
to-day, in view of their participa-
tons in the professions, in view of
the 100, 600 female school teachers
ali must conccde that so far as
mental achievements are the test,
the ground has shifted.
"The old theory of woman was
that she could be beaten by her
husband her earnings were his /;
she could make no will, nor con-
tract, nor have voice in the dispo-
sition of her children she was
shut out from the professions. Only
seven industries out side of home
making were open to her in 1886.
1t is not strange that in such
society the ballot was incongruous
for woman. But she is no longer
dependent on men she is no longer
generally domestic. All arguments
that justify the ballot for men along
these lines at last apply to women.
"Much has been made of the
fact that some women oppose suf-
TRACE and great numbers of them
appear disinterested. In the intro.
duction of great reforms, too much
stress should not be laid on indi-
vidual opinions. Thoughtful leaders
OF the sex want the ballot now, as
thoughtful blacks craved emancipa-
ton. The forgotten masses of
slaves made no sign. 1t is pitiful
that the comparison should be so
complete but the history of negro
emancipation runs parallel with the
loosening shackles on women.
"Woman should have the ballot
to protect herself in the larger life
OF recent years, which the State has
given her. She is factor in the
industrial world. No less than
male labor, she needs the ballot as
a defense ; she needs it to enrich
her life +; to lift great numbers from
the plane of idle gossip to the dis.
cussion of schools, streets, moral
reforms, orld-questions, with which
the ballot would bring her in sensi-
tive touch. Organized labor is
practically unanimous for woman
suffrage it is not unlikely compul-
sion from this quarter will force the
old parties to grant it.
'The State needs the ballot
of women. At present, half the
intelligence, the patriotism, the
public zeal of the adult population,
is inactive. The partisanship of
men would be corrected by the vote
of women who are chiefly interested
in good men in Office, to take care
of their cities and do Justice.
Women have quick intuitions.
The mothei instinct would still be
aggressive, and it is one to trust.
1t is mans government now, and
shows the absence of woman's con-
science and devotion to simplicity
and truth. Organized womanhood
thrown into the disposal of prob
lens, local and national, would be
power for good"