The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-10-11
WOMEN AND THE BALLOT
Leading Suffrage Advocates Re-
ply to Grover Cleveland.

Rev. Anna III. Shaw Not Surprised to
Read Argument by Former Presi-
dent Against Equal sufFrage-Susan
q. AnthOny's Tart RepIy-Mrs. Gait
Explains Ballot Claim.
Former President Grover Clevelands
article, Would Woman Suffrage Be
Unwise? written for the Ladies'
Home Journal, has aroused a storm of
protest and condemnation from women
who claim the right to vote. The gen
eral tenor Of the criticisms directed at
Mr.. Cleveland is that his arguments
against equal suffrage show a lack Of
information ON his part concerning
the subject.
The New York Herald recently pub
lished the following comments of lead
ing suffrage advocates:
Rev. Anna M. Shaw, president of the
Women's National Suffrage assocla-
ton:
After Mr.. Cleveland's recent sweep
ing denunciation Of women's clubs it
is not surprising to read an argument
by him against equal suffrage. His
first article showed him to be very i'm
perfectly acquainted with the good
work that women's clubs are actually
doing all around him. His second ar
ticle shows him to be even less ac-
Quainted with the facts in regard to
equal suffrage, which he has not had
much opportunity to observe.
Mr. Cleveland says that most wO-
men do not desire the ballot. Most
women undoubtedly are Indifferent,
but Of those who take any lively in
terest in the question either way the
large majority are in favor. This has
been demonstrated in every state
where petitions for suffrage and re-
monstrances against it have been sent
&c the legislature.
Theodore Roosevelt recommended
woman suffrage in his message to the
legislature, to the great horror of the
conservatives, when he was governor
Of New York. And on this question
the facts of experience bear out the
views of our present president who
faces toward the future, rather than
those Of our former president, who
faces toward the past"
Susan B. Anthony:
I'VE don't ask Grover Cleveland or
any other man to find the God given
sphere of woman. There are enough of
rs who are sufficiently intelligent to
find it ourselves.
L am glad that Mr.. Cleveland sees
that the organization of wOmen's clubs
paves the way for suffrage. 1t is nat
ural sequence, because wOmen's clubs
are interested in movements for the
betterment of city, state or government
civics. and when they attempt to do
anything they run their heads against
the ballot box in short order They find
that the vote of one ignorant, illiterate
man outweighs their entire club in
fighting for or against legislation.
Women are interested in liquor
laws because they affect the home
When the man gets drunk he goes
home; when he is unfaithful it is the
home that is hurt. The grOg shop,
gambling room and brothel are directly
antagonistic to the home. Why would
not women vote against them if given
the chance|'
Carrie Chapman Gait former presi-
dent Of the National Suffrage associa-
ton:
Grover Cleveland, like most oppo-
nents of woman suffrage, evades the
main claim why women should be en-
dowed with the ballot. Few woman
suffragists have ever claimed the bal
lot for women as an inherent right
They are agreed that it attaches nei-
Their to man nor to woman by nature.
They claim it as an act of justice, not
as a concession Of chivalry. The ballot
was first given to men upon the prin-
ciple that taxation without represen-
tation is tyranny Women are taxed
and women are governed, and for these
reasons and for no other do women
suffragists ask the ballot"
Lille Devereux Blake, president of
the Legislative league:
''Mr CleveIand's article on woman
suffrage is written in his usual
thoughtful and scholarly style, but one
cannot help regretting that he did not