The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-12-19
WOMAN SUFFRAGE A FAILURE.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE A FAILURE.
One of the enfranchised women citi-
zen Of the state Of Colorado says that
she has carefully observed the work.
ings Of woman suffrage in that state
during the last few years and now re-
moves all doubt as to her conclusions
by boldly declaring that woman suf-
frage is failure. She says she start
ed with the conviction that woman
suffrage would be panacea for all of
the wrongs from which women suffer
and that She has carefully studied the
workings Of the law in Colorado as
bearing upon her ideal.
Her conclusions are given in an ex-
haustive magazine article, in which
she sums up the results of her eagle
eyed observations and the wearisome
hours Of study in this declaration:
However suffrage may be regarded
rs an abstract problem it has brought
grave disaster upon the women Of Colo
RADIO"
This broad statement is given as
though 1t were fact incapable of con-
tradiction, but more careful reading
ff 81.
only the opinion of the writer, says the
Seattle Times.
Then follows another emphatic con-
clusion: 1.-THE possession Of the bal
lot and the employment of that pos
session has hurt the woman Of Colora-
do as woman can least afford to be hurt
Her ideals have been lowered, the deli
eacy Of her perception of right and
wrong has been dulled. "
II this conclusion be correct, 1t be-
eames serious Indictment against wo-
man suffrage, but 1t is hardly safe for |
the careful student to accept the con-
clusion without previously knowing the
gst of the evidence that must neces-
sarlly precede The writer shows that |
she was expecting too much from wo
man suffrage at the Inauguration of the |
experiment.. Undoubtedly she has |
been disappointed; most people are |
when they have their ideals set too |
tish.
Woman's work in almost any field of |
activity is benehcal--albiet she comes |
a long way short of creating perfect |
conditions. When she starts out with
the assumption that the ballot In wo-
mans hands will enable her to inaug-
uarate the millennium" the phlegma-
tic world will attach very little dis
appointment that must follow.
In shifting the testimony of the Colo
RADIO woman who is sorry that she ever
voted, there is little that win justify
even an amateur logcian in accepting
her conclusion, unless he starts out
under the incubus OF the wish being
father TO the thought II that be the
he desires 10 reach, rather II
than just one, Of course he must nor /
oe too critical as to methods. d
II is said that the women of Colorado /,
ire inclined to be f'hystericar In !
the simplest discussion d
II the most trivial matter is marked q
~ 4 breathiess tenseness out of all con {
Deivable proportion TO the occasion, $
rhe result of this psychologist peculiar s
ty Of the sex is that women regarded a
IS leaders devoted themselves to Great i
No excitement, In the belief that by so Il
olng they are beneftting the state. :"
rhis is interesting testimony but ac-
enting it to be Il true statement OF the
'olorado situation, and reasoning by i
induction that It would be the same In i
ther states, it is not sufficient proof II
0 draw the general conclusion thar
mirage which has brought grave dis
ster upon the women of Colorado has II
lso brought disaster in general, p
II the testimony here given be true, a
only demonstrates that when women 4
. into politics they throw that same g
arnestness into the situation that they a
o IN whatever else they undertake "
Women may be more earnest than IS 4
ecessary. possibly waste q good deal OF .
eryous energy over trivial matters, and &
he fact that they do throw q little en- /