Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-04
PRESIDENT IS WILLING SIMON NEARS CAPITAL
But Ony Lukewarm Advocate With His Army Will Enter Port
of Vote for Women au Prince Tomorrow
BEL LIEVEs IN EQUALITY FAVORED FOR PRESIDENT
But Several Candidates Arise for Nord
Much Importance. Alexis Successor
NO GOOD IN 1T THINKS ROOT NO REAL GOVERNMENT NOW
would
of Public Safety Committee-our
Get
But Only LukeWarm Advocate
of Vote for Women.
But Does Not Think Question Is Of
Much Importance.
NO GOOD IN IT, THINKS ROOT
Would Not Improve Electoral
Efficiency of People. He Says.
Could Get Franchise if
They Want It.

They Want It.
NEW YORK. December 4-The atti-
tude of President Roosevelt and of Secre-
tary of State Eiihu Root on the subject
of woman suffrage was disclosed today at
meeting under the auspices OF the Ma
tional League for the Civic Education of
Women.
The Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott. editor of
the Outlook. in the course of an address
in opposition to granting the right to vote
To women. read the following letter from
President Roosevelt which. he said. he
read with the Presidents permission, al
though it was not written for pubica-
ton nor for this occasion.
Not a Burning Question.
Personally. 7 believe in woman's suf-
frage,' says Mr.. Roosevelt. at the out
set of the latter, which is dated November
10. 1905. but I am not an enthusiastic
advocate of it, because I do not regard
is very important matter.
II am unable to see that there has been
any special Improvement in the position
in women in those states in the west that
have adopted woman suffrage. as COM
pdTe0 WITH tnOSo States tHcm
that have not adopted 1t.
II do not think that giving the women
suffrage will produce any marked i'm
provement in the condition OF women.
do not believe that it will produce any Of
the evils feared and I am very certain
that when women as a whole take any
special interest in the matter they will
have the suffrage if they desire it.
But at present, I think. most of them
are lukewarm: ! find some actively for it
nd actiy aUainSf fOr
the reasons above given. rather what you
would regard as lukewarm or tepid in my
support of it, because. while l believe in
il. do not regard 1t as of very much
Importance.
Equality, But Not Identity.
Il believe that man and woman should
stand on an equality of right: but I do
not believe that equality of right means
identity of function. And I am more and
more convinced that the great field. the
indispensable field. for the usefulness of
women is as the mother of the family.
1T is her work In the household, in the
home. her work In bearing and rearing
the children. which is more than any
mans work 1t Is that work which should
he normally the woman's special work.
just as normally the mans work should
be that of the breadwinner, the supporter
of the home. and. it necessary. the SOL
der who will fight for the home.
There are exceptions as regards both
man and woman. But the full and per-
feet life, he life of highest happiness and
of highest usefulness to the state, is the
life of the man and woman, who are hus-
hand and wife, who live in the partner
ship of love and duty, the one earning
enough to keep the home. the other man.
aging the home and children.
Sincerely yours.
DIR. Abbott. who was the principal
speaker at the meeting. argued against
what he held would be the infliction of
new and unnatural responsibility and duty
obligations of public life. The title Of
his address was The Assault on Woman
hood.
Education Needed First
Secretary Root, in a letter which was
read at the meeting, says:
Il do not myself consider that the
granting Of suffrage to woman would un-
der existing conditions. be any improve
ment in our system of government. On
the contrary. think it would rather re-
duce than increase the electoral ef-
'iciency of our people.
L am inclined to think, aowevc-, that
If the women OF the United States, or
any very large majority of them should
1edHS FoIHP 20 VUnI the rlSnt or SuHfaRe
OF themselves they would ultimately
get il.
For the purpose of exercising the right
e suffrage, if they should ever get it,
and for the purpose of determining intel
gently whether they really want il. the
women of the country generally ought
TO have and to seize the opportunity for
. greater deg zee of education in questions
OF government and in the practical art of
government than they have had up to
tnis time.
Glider Speaks for Family Life.
Richard Watson Glider editor of the
Century Magazine. presided at the meet
ing. and in the course of his address said
Within a few days the country has
been shocked by the appalling official
figures of divorce in the United States
In the face of this lamentab'e show
ing TO an increasing weakness of the
sentiment of home and family in America
II is reassuring TO find so many women
willing TO stand forth and insist upon
the fact that the home and the family
are the foundations of the best things
That humanity has yet achieved. and to
lift up their voices against what in their
solemn belief is new iusidious and pos
slbly disastrous attack upon the funda-
mentalS OF ciyiliZa ton -