The San Francisco call., 1906-10-22

n
~ been requested by the Equal suf-
Ifrage League of San Francisco, on
account OF my long residence in
Australia and New Zealand to reply to
the charges made in a recent sermon
by Rev. Rufus Num- of the Centenary
churcn, report of which occurred in
your issue of October l. Mr. Mum de-
ciared that woman suffrage had been a
Iallure wherever 1t had been tried. For
n1teen years / have lived in New Zea-
land and Australia, where women have
1ull suffrage, and the experiment had
proved itself there in every way an un-
qual1ned success. 1t is a well-known
fact that in this country a petition
from ministers of the gospel has no
influence whatever with politicians be-
cause the preachers constituency, com
posed largely of women has no politf-
cal power 1t was so in the antipodes
until the women were enfranchised IT
is so no longer. In New Zealand the
votes cast by women have been the
means OF passing many reform meas
ures, among them the local option bill
the bill forbidding the employment of
children of tender years in factories.
the bill which prevents the Sweating
system for women, the old age pension
law, which makes such a humane and
non-humiliating provision for the aged
that 1t has solved a pressing social
problem in way which is the admira-
ton or the world. Equality in the
divorce law, equal pay for equal work.
the eight-hour labor law, a compulsory
weekly half-holiday besides Sunday and
purer administration of public affairs
generally-this is the record of women's
political activity. There Is no reason
why the women of California. than
whom no more intelligent, capable or
earnest women exist, could not do even
more If given an opportunity.
Colorado is no better morally for
having woman suffrage-in fact, condi-
tions there, judging from the corruption
revealed, are worse than ever in the
history of the State" the Rev. Mr.. Num-
is reported as saying, and he extends
the statement to cover the other suf-
frage States. Every Governor of Colo
rado and all the members of the SUI
preme bench since the granting of the
suffrage to women, to say nothing of
Judge Lindsay of Juvenile Court fame
have again and again denied this CAL
.umny so industrious1y circulated by
the opponents of woman suffrage. The
following is from the pen of Judge
Grossbeck of Wyoming: TT (woman
suffrage) has been weighed and found
not wanting. 1t has tended to secure
good nominations for the public offices.
The women, as a class, will not know
ingly vote for incompetent, immoral or
inefficient candidates 1t has tended
to make our women self-reliant and in
dependent and to turn their attention
to the study Of the science of govern
ment-an education that is needed by
the mothers of the race. It has made
our elections quiet and orderly-no
rudeness, brawling or disorder appears.
or would be tolerated at the polling
booths. 1t has not marred domestic
harmony. Husband and wife FREQUENT
ly vote opposing tickets without dis
turbing the peace of the home. Di-
yorces are not as frequent here as in
other communities. 1t has not result
ed In unsexfng women. They have not
been office-seekers. Women are gem
orally selected for county suprintend-
ents OF schools, offices for which they
seem particularly adapted, but they
have not been applicants for other po-
sitions"
Because of the statements which Mr..
Num- made publicly, and because equal
suffragists court the freest and fullest
discussion of their question, the EQUAL
Suffrage League challenges Mr.. Num-
to public debate at any time or place
which he may name. Mr.. Mum will
not be asked to debate with one of the
despised sex, for the league will be rep
resented by gentleman.
1t is utterly unfair to oppose a great
movement in CONGRATULATIONS and give
its supporters no opportunity to refute
the giittering adverse generalitfes with
solid facts. If Mr.. Num- has the cour-
age or his utterances the league Is
ready to meet him at any time.
JOHN HATHAWAY