The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-04-14
WOMAN'S PART IN POLITICS AND
IN QUESTIONS TO BE SETTLED
BY VOTING.


News comes from AsncyIlIc that 1t IS
probable the women will be present at
the polls when the voting takes place TO
compel the enforcement Of the city or
dinances against improper houses and for
the early closing of saloons. Much can be
said for and against such participation,
but there can be nothing said against
the earnest efforts which women make
in their own homes and among their
male relatives and close friends In
Wilson, according to the Times, they
were a potential factor in the successful
fight for a dispensary. Reviewing the
campaign the Times says:
There were many things that contrib
Uted to the success of this fight and 1t
would be hard to p~articularize, but in
looking around TO give credit to whom
credit is due, too much cannot be said
Of the good influences of the ministers
and the good women Of our town. They
led the fight from first to last and were
in right at the finish. An appeal was
made directly to the ladies and they re-
sponded nobly to the cause. We know
some who directly influenced their people
to vote for the dispensary ard others
who could not secure their votes per-
suaded thCm not 10 vote at all. one
good wife kept her husband in bed all
day and would not let him have his
! clothes 20 prevent him from voting. An
other marched a relative UP to the polls
and voted him. These are only a few
Instances of the courage of the ladies in
this contest"
We confess to some feeling against the
publicity involved for the good woman
who marched a relative up to the polls
and voted him" but we say three cheers
and a tiger" for the woman who kept
her husband in bed all day and would
not let him have his clothes to prevent
him from voting" No doubt he deserved
it, and for that matter the man who was
marched" Up and voted by his female
relative was voted" better than, left
to himself, he would have elected to vote.
The Philadelphia North American Of
Sunday contains an interview with the
wife of Mayor-elect Weaver. She talks
upon woman's part in politics, and says:
Il cannot believe a man can find so
much pleasure in his home or in his
wife when she must take part in public
life.
Public life is not for woman, politics
is not for her. Safe sheltered in the
walls of the home that her husband has
brought her to, to be its queen, she is
happiest, and SO is he.
Home should be a mans refuge, d
mans place of peace and rest where, af-
ter the heat and battle of the day, he may
come, gladly welcoming the thought Of
it all the way, and find his wife there
ready to pour the wine and oil of love
and faith into his wounds.
Il know this is very old-fashioned. i
know the arguments about encouraging
the selfishness of men, about women
making slaves Of themselves. But my
heart says to me that she who serves
through great love is the spirit Of great
est freedom. And through faith in men
shall women enable them to resist temp
tation.
Through being pure and steadfast her
self and rearing her sons to revere pur-
ity and steadfastness shall she bring
about civic purity.
Such sentiments-I suppose clever
women would say they are not opinions
plainly proclaim that l am not in favor
OF woman's suffrage. The thought of a
world of voting women makes me Shud-
der. Men would go on marrying just
the same, / suppose, since the world
must have children, but probably there
would be many women who would not
vote as their husbands wished them to,
and think of the quarrelinS then!
Il DO not believe women have the sort
of minds to penetrate grave political
problems that must be reasoned out,
penetrated deeply. She arrives at just
conclusions by the subtle insight Of a
spiritual, loving nature. | cannot be-
lieve that competitive contact with the
fighting world of men will sharpen her
intellectual insight sufficiently to make
UP for loss Of spiritual insight, for lose
it she must if she is going to fling down
a challenge in mans arena.
Il like to see her working in the field
Of charity and philanthropy if she is not
married or has no children. Even if she
has a household she should give what
time she can justly spare to help the
poor and suffering. The charities that
deal directly with maternity, children
and mistrcatcd animals need above all
else women to form and direct them"