Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-02-18
WOMAN SUFFRAGE VIEWS
Stephen Jewell Gives His Idea 8
on the Subject.
Editor Courier (:

Editor Courier:
As the woman suffrage question is
to the front, permit me, through the
columns of your paper, to offer a few
thoughts by way OF approval. My
chief reason for favoring woman
suffrage, is simply because man
suffrage has proven to be a failure
Our country has made wonderful
progress in some lines, not because
of, but in spite of, our voting privi-
leges. On general principles, l op-
pose woman suffrage. Voting. like
any other political duty, is certainly
the prerogative Of man; but like any
other duty, it should be held sacred.
The fact that large per cent of our
voting population is composed of men
who neither know nor care anything
about the principles of free govern
ment, is enough to justify the demand
for a change. l think it would be a
long time before our women would
degenerate to a mere voting herd, as
many of our men have done.
The problems that now confront the
American people, call for the exer-
else of the very best talent. The
crowd that can usually be seen loaf
ing about saloons ON the eve of
elections are not equal to the work
in hand.
Popular suffrage is based ON the
supposition that people in free
country are too intelligent and patri-
otto to neglect their best interests.
This is our theory, but it is far
from being our practice, While we
have done much towards improving
the material conditions of our race,
we have at the same time permitted
elements of destruction to grow up
that may in time overshadow the
good work Of centuries.
We claim to be Christian nation,
but our saloons outnumber our
churches, our oonvicts outnumber our
converts, and our extremely poor out
number those in safe and comfortable
conditions. Woman suffrage may not
be a panacea for all of our social evils,
hut the well known sympathy of our
women for suffering humanity would
indicate, at least, a season of reform.
Women today, in spite of their dis
franchisement, are doing more to bet
ter the conditions Of our race than
congress and all other legislative
bodies combined. While congress Is
taxing the people to support armies
for the destruction of life and prop.
erty, women are contributing Of
their time, talont, and enei iges to the
saving of life and property.
Now, few words to our lady
friends. You can not vote at the
coming eleotion-the fellows that
hang around saloons will do your
voting-but you can see that your
fathers, husbands and brothers vote
for home and good government. You
can use your voice and pen from now
until election day. Yon can even
hold conventions and nominate oandi-
dates, and then make IL lively for the
men who refuse to recognize your
work.
Unless there come a radical change,
the men who will represent us in the
next congress and state Legislature
will not dare to say or do anything
that would antagonize the saloon
element. They may do little tenn
perance whining in the Sunday school
and the experience meeting. but not
enough to hurt anything
l believe that, by united effort,
you can secure the nomination Of
men who stand unequivooally for the
suppression Of asloons, Of gambling,
Of war, Of monopoly and of all forms
OF slavery. BY controlling the con-
yentions, you place the voting herd
where they will have to vote for good
men, and when you have shown your
willingness and your ability to bring
about these much needed reforms
there will be plenty OF men to ap.
preciate your worth in the affairs Of
state.
The great need Of the present age
is higher standard OF manhood.
When you have given US this, you
can then retire to the more gentle and
refined duties Of life, and with the
assurance that your men are equal to
any emergency that may arise.
STEPHEN JEWELL.