Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-22
80
o =
WoMAN's SUFFRAGE.

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Equal Suffrage Regardless Of Sex"
written by r. T. Chew, 109 Adella
street, and read before the Chew Re-
union association at Oskaloosa)
Being assigned the task Of writing a
I paper, subject Of my own choice, and
Icing member Of the greatest reform
party of modern times. thought 1t but
Justice to myself to write concerning
one Of the great planks Of that party's
platform; that of woman's suffrage
God in the beginning created man then
woman, and said: I'VE will make
woman for his helpmate,' and if God
had not intended woman to be a help
mate In all things he would in that day
surely have stated the things he want
ed her to help in and the things he
wanted her to let alone Had he in.
tended her only for mother q house
Keeper, or laundress, surely he would
have said SO and not have given her
the high honor of being an helpmate,
or, in other words, the equal Of man,
the highest creation of God. You
ask me IL intend to say that woman
should have equal rights with man at
the ballot box? l answer, yes for in
all things God has made her mentally
and morally the equal Of man. Give
her the right of suffrage because she
is fully competent to use the same.
In Iowa and good many other states
man has accorded her the right to vote
at school elections and for the issuing
OF bonds and in favor of our great
commonwealth she has equal suffrage
as well as being allowed to vote on
all questions in Australia and New
Zealand, and on every question in
Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland and
Canada except the election of mem
bers of parliament, and in every place
she has voted her vote has always
been for the right. and by granting
her the privilege | spoke Of in this
country, We but acknowledge her abil-
ity to vote on all questions, whether
municipal, state or national. If she
owns property do we not tax her? If
she commits crime do we not punish
her? Taxation without representa-.
ton is no less than tyranny To pun
ish subject of country for crime
when you do not allow that subject
any voice in the lawmaking power Of
the country surely is not right SO long
as that subject is possessed with quail
tiles equal to other subjects of the
country who do make the laws. and
while that subjects character is not
questioned
Is she not one of the governed
whether she consents to it or not?
Is she not equally interested and re-
sponsible In all laws regarding hus-
band and wife, marriage, divorce, par.
ent and child, guardian. ward, of prop.
erty. wills, morals, public health, pub.
lie peace and in all things pertaining
to tne welfare of the people as the
man is? If SO, why not allow her equal
rights in saying what the law shall be
governing all these things? Women
are allowed to vote in all corporations.
IN all mutual associations, in all bust
ness and property matters where men
and women are associated together.
There they treat them as their equals
Now answer this question. If WON
an is capable of transacting all kinds
OF business on an equality with men
why not allow her the right Of fran.
chise that she may protect her prop
erty, her virtue and the lives and NOR.
ads Of her children? Future genera
lions will look back and wonder how
men could treat mothers, wives and
daughters with such injustice; wonder
why the difference in sex made such
difference in ruman rights.
Il favor woman's suffrage because
woman possesses the proper oualifica
tons Of citizenship. AS a rule she 1s
better educated than her stronger
helpmate; she is more studious while
In school, therefore fitting herself
more fully to study political economy
in after life than her brother, and az
a rule she is more observant of the
every day doings of states and nations
and as to their true patriotism and 10y
atty, to country and home, none for
moment doubt them. While on the
other hand the husband and father, al
though ever so true to country, in 80
many cases great many more than
you can find in the mothers are un.
true to their own homes and firesides
spending their time and money in ga.
looms while their wives and children
are In need Of bread and the other ne
cessities of life; spending their lives
and strength in drunkenness and idle.
ness; allowing their wives and famil.
les to go in want; while his poor wife
oioFOS oNCl Lie NdSutuD 10 exc OuJ a
scanty sustenance for his child and
herself But l didn't write this to
show the dark side of humanity, but
will ask the question: In how many
more cases do you find the above pic.
ture true than you find the mother
squandering her life spending all the
money she can get hold of while her
children are crying for bread and her
husband is working hard to make
them living and to keep the family
together?
II am in favor of womans suffrage
because enfranchised woman would
reach higher plane of moral and
mental ability. Enfranchisement
would stimulate home discussion. I'll
would lead husband and wife together
to study what would be better for
home and country. One of the great
est evils of Northumberland is they
do not think enough on public ques.
tons. do not study them as they
should or as they might IL the had q