Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-01-21

At the suffrage meetings held dur
ing the past two weeks, there has
been noticeable lack of club
women. Inquiry among some of our
prominent club leaders develops
the startling assertion, "We do not all
believe IN woman suTragel' Think
Of 1t. A woman with intelligence
enough to administer property, some
Of which she may have acquired
through her own economies, perfect
ly willing to subscribe to taxation
without representation. ] almost
SAID that her properly might have
been acquired through her own
efforts, but, on reflection, l came
to the conclusion that we find no
anti-suffragists among our workers
1t is tho drone in our beehive who
cares for no voice in the conduct of
affairs, the lily Of the field "who
tolls not, neither does she spin, "who
allies herself to those who say 1--WE
will not vote, therefore you shall
not 4" Our anti suffragist can afford
to ride in her carriage to cultivate
her talents to send her children to
private schools, to Graw around her
self and her particular set, the lines
OF exclusiveness. She labors under
the impression that to be exclusive
is to refine the clay; that to reform,
to mix with the workers, she il
creating for herself and hor kind, a
sort Of purified atmosphere in which
only the initiated can live. Exolu-
siveness in these days has como Ia
take on new meaning. II has mar
rowed and squeezed, and shut itself
up until it has finally crowded itself
into that most detestable Of words
solflshness And it is down TO this
plane that our anti-sutfragist have
lowered themselves. II they do not
wish to exercise themselves their
privilege Of citizenship If they are
70 we'll taken care Of, so tendorly
guarded, that they do not feel the
pressure Of economic conditions that
press so cruelty on 80 many Of their
less fortunate sisters, would not the
womanly course Of action be to re.
tire2
There Is in the proposed amend.
ment nothing which is imperative as
TO voting. II does not say all women
shall vote, It merely statos that we
shall not be deprived of all the rights
to exercise this privilege on account
OF sex. Ask the woman who earns
her own living what she thinks Of
suffrage. Ask our teachers who work
side by side with the voter and who
is paid from $40 to S25 less for doing
the same kind Of work, ask them
what they think Of suffrage Ash
our college graduates, who can give
not only the religious history OF our
race but know also the policy Of our
national and state administration,
what they think Of not being al-
lowed TO vote, while the man in the
north end who makes his lilying OF
the shame Of our sisters is allowed to
exercise the right Of suffrage
They-the anti-suifragist'-tell us
that they fear for the destruction Of
the hearthstone-that the sanctity Of
the homo will DO throatened-if we
women take part in the affairs Of
the government To that charge !
answer that It is because we recog-
nize more clearly than they the dan
gers that threaten the home, that we
are willing TO share in the battle for
it, defense. We are not willing to
throw the entire burden Of its protec.
tion onto the shoulders OF our hus-
bands and fathers, already overbur.
denod. The true wife is the ono who
shares-not only the JOYS but also the
responsibilities. Of the husbands
The true mother is the one who does
not shut out from her own knowledge,
the dangers aud pitfalls that lie In
wait for her boy. She finds out VIA .t
they are. She learns that the mcst
dreadful of all is fostered by the
patronage OF tine politician. and she
learns that TO successfully attack the
evil she must meet it with its own
weapons Because she loves her
home and her children, she delegates
the task TO no one else. she does the
work herself
The anti suifragist has the support
Of the liquor men In her campaign.