Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-10
dent advocate of woman's right or even


dent advocate of woman's right or even
duty to work, that you are also sup
porter OF her right to vote"
THAT does not follow replied I'm
Gle Ike. ITO be self-reliant, independ-
ent, and self-supporting is a pleasure
and duty and adds to ones self-re-
spect. AS voting is done at the pres
ent day, l do not see how woman can
take part in it and maintain her self
respect. improvements no doubt will
be made in the manner of voting. The
ballot will become secret, and the
count will not be disclosed until after
the voting is finished. The rum stores
will be closed on voting day and an
air of responsibility will be given to it
that 1t does not now possess. It ought
to be made legal holiday"
Granted" said Quincy, but what
has that to do with the question of
woman's right to vote?"
Woman has no inherent right to
vote" said Uncle Ike. THE ballot is
privilege, not a right. Why, l re-
member reading during the war that
young soldiers, between Is and 81
years of age, claimed the ballot as a
right because they were fighting for
their country il voting is right, what
argument could be used against their
claim"
I remember" added Quincy, that
they argued that bullets should win
ballots Do you think any one should
vote who cannot fight?" asked Quincy.
IF he does not shirk his duty be-
tween Is and 45." said Uncle Ike, "he
should not be deprived of his ballot
when he is older; but the question of
woman's voting does not depend upon
her ability to fight The mother at
home thinking of her son, the sister
thinking OF her brother, the wife think
ing OF her husband. are as Loyalty
| fighting for their native land as the
soldiers in the field, and no soldier is
Drawer than the hospital nurse, who
day after day and night after night
watches by the bedsides of the wound
ed, the sick, and the dying. No. Mr..
| Sawyer, 1t is not a question of fighting
or bravery"
During the discussion Alice had
dried her eyes and was listening to her
uncle's words She now asked a ques-
ton. when will women vote, Uncle?"
when it is deemed expedient for
them to do So" replied Uncle Ike
The full privilege will not be given all
at once. They will probably be allow
ed to vote on some one matter in
which they are deeply interested. Ed
ucation and the rum question are the
ones most likely to be acted upon first.
But the full ballot will not come, and
now know Alice will shake her head
and say MOI repeat 1.-THE full
ballot will not come for woman until
our social superstructure is changed
Woman will not become the political
equal of man until she is his social and
industrial equal;and until any contract
OF whatever nature made by man
and a woman may be dissolved by
them by mutual consent. without their
becoming criminals in the eye of the
law. or outcasts In the eve of society,"
At this moment Ezekiel looked in
the door and said. 'Alice's room is nice
and warm now" Advancing, he tool
her hand and led her from the room
Uncle Ike thanked Quincy for his kind
ness and followed them. Quincy sal
and thought. The picture that his
} mind drew placed the woman who hat
just left his room in large house witt
J servants at her command She wa!
the head of the household but no me
NAL or scullion. She did not work
because he was able and willing t,
J support her. She did not vote, hecaus,
J she felt with him that at home was he
sphere of usefulness; and then Quinc,
thought that what would make thi.
possible was money. money that no
J he but others had earned ant
: he knew that without this money tn,
question could not be solved rs hi
mind had pictured it; and he reflected
that all women could not have grea
houses and servants and loving hns
: bands to care for them. and he &C
: knowledged to himself that his solu
: ton was personal, selfish one an,
not one that would answer for the toll
ing millions of the working world.