Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-02
A W0MAN'S POINT OF VIEW

Mr.. Grover Cleveland has expressed
his opinion on the woman's club gpcs-
ton The Ladies' Home journal.
which publishes his article. announces
that 1t is the result OF a great deal oil
thought and attention, given by M.
Cleveland as to whether the modern
woman's club is or Is not injur1ousto
woman and n menace to domeStlclY.
Mr.. Clevelands conclusion, expressta
with q directncss and force that COM
mands widespread attention, Is one
which IL followed, would limit women
all over this land. to religious, charir
able and benevolent organizations
alone. His statement that literary clubs
and those aiming to get the ballot are
all wrong, has met with scathing re-
Duke by Miss Susan b. Anthony, pion-
Ger woman susfraglst, and VIII doubt
less continue to call forth favorable
and unfavorable criticism, which OF 1T
self will draw more attention to this
small adverse movement than perhaps
it's own merit would do. But while
this discussion is in full sway, the
mighty movement for the intellectual
and political emancipation Of Amcri-
cas- womanhood, will go steadily
marching on.
Cleveland balks on the ballot. An In
dignant appeal for womnnly influence
I'm government, which came the other
day from 81 lmes-Republican reader.
seems to furnish opportune answer IN
part, to the argument advanced. The
author Of the appeal asks:
"Why should our mothers, wives
and sisters be kept disfranchised the
same as criminals, idiots, slaves and
insane? ! have often wondered how
much longer this government Will cons
tnue to practice this gross injustice
toward the purest and best half of our
citizens.
Our government today, with it's
civilization. Is almost entirely mascu-
line and wholly intellectual, and there
fore almost entirely destitute of affec-
ton and morality, and this immoral
ity In every department of our govern
ment Is due to the stlbversion OF this
feminine or moral factor of existence,
and its suppression has necessarily
ended In inequality, confusion and
crime, until 1t has permeated every
condition of society from top to bot
tom. To have q perfect government,
best society and the highest state OF
civilization. Justice and equality must
be the foundation on which they are
built. We must be not only intelli-
gent, but we must love justice enough
to recognize both these factors or
principles equally, and extend to them
equal place, support and power.
"rhere must be an equal proportion
Of men and women in our religious,
political and social relations in order
to attain that perfect peace and hap
piness that we as q Christian nation
ought to enjoy. But just SO long as
we as a nation refuse to accept and
incorporate these facts into our Or
ganic laws, just so long will our gov
eminent be filled with war and every
kind OF lawlessness In every depart
ment Of the nation.
"Just so sure as 1t takes the loving
presence and companionship Of women
to fill our homes with Joy and happl-
ness, Just SO sure we need her pres
ence and assistance in every depart
ment of our government from presi-
dent down to Justice of the peace, In
order that we may attain to that high
standard of Christian civilization
which all good men and women so ear
nestly DESIRE"
Yet, after all, have we assurance that
once In the imbrogli0 Of political
smirch, the gentler sex would remain.
or could they remain, the best half of
our citizens? True our government is
almost entirely masculine and wholly
intellectual, but that same masculine
and wholly intellectual element must
and does acknowledge receiving much
OF its inspiration from the womanhood
with which 1t Is associated In private
life. Hidden influences are often most
powerful and may 1t not be that the
Intelligent moulding of opinion and
character in a quiet, powerful way, Will
have a greater effect than this move
ment to which every manly instinct
seems to be opposed? Because 1t does
take the presence and companionshir
Of women to fill our homes with Joy
and happiness, should we not fear to
lose it in a hazardous experiment
And 1t is in making intelligent, up
lifting and influential, that same hap
piness, that the women's clubs are do
ing a splendid work, however much
they may branch out to other lines
Cleveland sets literary clubs down as
all wrong and those in the previously
mentioned category as all right, but
literary club members bring to these
religious charitable and benevolent or.
CARNATIONS knowledge and vieWpoin'
which broadens and renders more help
full that very work
Organizations called labor unions
have come into disfavor because of con-
troll by radical and oftentimes unreas-
enable element, but no thinking person
will fail to commend the good pnrpos:
for which they were organized, althc
the ways of carrying it out seem to b:
sadly perverted. Neither should the
sensible club woman, Of whom there
are many, be judged by the austere
Individual unflatteringly dubbed and
avoided as the strong minded woman
The former will not pursue outside
interests to the neglect of sacred home
duties while the latter narroWs ne!
horizon by the exclusion of so many
things worth while but aside from
club interests.
A recent interesting art criticism.
departing widely from that usually ac-
corded the paintings of Rosa Bon
heur, is that of Professor John G. Van
Dyke, the author of art for Arts
Sake" who is quoted as saying that
the celebrated French artists work
was never great, and that it has al
ways received more praise than it de-
served His attack is aimed espec-