Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-16
FROM A W0MAN'S POINT OF VIEW
Alice Priest, of Shenandoah, in

Alice Priest, of Shenandoah, in a
communication to this paper recently,
writes interestingly about the growth
of democratic ideas, leading gradually
up to the perplexing question of wom-
an suffrage, and intimating that wom-
en- are denied the ballot because they
have not been vigilant in looking after
their true interests. Her conamunica-
ton is entitled est. Thomas Aquinas
On Government and reads as follows:
IF anyone conceives that demo-
cratic ideas are late growth let him
only look to history. He will find that
the democratic idea is only going by
degrees from the imperfect to the per-
feet.
more than six hundred years ago,
one of the greatest philosophers of the
Roman Catholic church. st. Thomas
Aquinas, wrote on government as fol-
lows:
Two things are necessary to found
a durable order In cities ard in ma
lions. The first is the admission of al!
to share in the general government,
so that all may be interested in the
maintenance of the public peace which
has become their work-Thusi, the hap
piest combination of powers is that
which would place at the head of the
nation virtuous prince; which would
| array under him a certain number of
notable persons empowered to govern
according to the rules of the equity
and which in taking these persons from
all classes, and in subjecting them to
the suffrages Of the entire people,
would thus associate the whole of So
ciety in the cares of government
in all but four states, the men of
democratic America need to take a
lesson from this scholar of the thir-
tenth century. The suffrages of the
entire people, How then can women
rightly be excluded? BY no law of
logic or justice can it be done. For
their own sakes women need to help
makes the laws that vitality affect their
lives. For the sake of the country.
government so that they too may be
interested in the maintenance of the
public peace
"St. Thomas further says: If the
people for whom the laws are laid
down, are quiet in their behavior, SER
ious in their thoughts, and vigilant in
looking after their true interests they
will properly be allowed the right OF
choosing the magistrates entrusted
with the administration of public aft
fairs
THAT women are quiet in behavior,
the proportionately few Of them in
prison testify; that they are serious
in their thoughts, church member
ship rolls will vouch for Are they
denied the ballot because they have
not been vigilant in looking after their
true interests? 1t may be-
Suffrage or no suffrage, however,
women of the class denoted as pro-
gressive, are interested not only in the
maintenance of the public peace, but
in admirable schemes for public inn
provement. One phase of this interest
is shown in the desire of wonlen's
clubs of various places, to start pub
lie park projects, improve places al
for keeping the streets clean and
healthful Another evidence of inter-
est in public affairs is a petition be-
ing circulated among women's clubs
for signatures. the petition being fof
the purpose of unseating Senator
Smoot. of Utah. That women, re-
CARELESS of the fact that they have
no right to vote. have an influence
that makes itself felt in public at
fairs is further proved by the conf
dent statement, with the women on
my side I can win." which was mad.
by a candidate for mayor Of a certain
prominent city. This candidate had
SO much faith In this influence that