New-York tribune., 1908-12-11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
MAKES PROTEST AGAINST FLIPPANcY.
Another Correspondent Objects to Light Treat
ment of Suffrage Meeting.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: agree with your correspondent in the issue
Of December on the subject Of the 1ippant treat
nent of the woman suffrage meeting. I would ex-
terd this complaint nearly all the reports Of
women's meetings The inference is that when
women discuss economic questions their remarks
are about a level with those OF debating soci-'
ETY. In a grammar school and their opinions are not
worthy Of an ordinary unbiased report, not To
speak OF serious consideration. In fact. meetings
of women are the only ones in which irresponsible
reporters allowed TO show their individual bias
In the report of that great gathering in Carnegie
He'll. which at least significant your reporter
indulged in sportivs pleasantly about "a
horrid hashlight which caused almost as much
cornmotion as If a mouse had appeared This Is
uninportant in itself and Is only to be considered
as a fair average specimen of the manner of re-
porting such meetings I believe that the meetings
of anti sufrragists are the only ones which escape
these half-veled expressions of implied contempt.
Women have the right to protest agsinst this un-
dignifed style Of reporting their proceedings es-
peciaIly by an influential newspaper In every par
ticUar except the franchise women are citizens
Their place in art and literature their influence
upon politics (shown in past ages as in the present.
their power rule when such power rs imposed
upon them. and many other ordinary human powers
and characteristics should protect them from con-
tempt and buffoonery. The achievements OF wom-
ems clubs and associations In time should also
place them above it; the work done by the Con
surners League the preservation of valuable relics
COn1nemOTaGO0
otic societies. fair and intelligent discussion or
social and economic questions continually going on
among women and leavening public sentiment. The
time is past when a Woman's opinion is OF no con
sequence though she is uniustly forbidden to
record it when ii will do the most good
OF course the assumption is that womsn's claim
,pon the ballot is ridiculous As matter of fact,
this assumption is ridiculous Even the thinking
people among the anti-sufra gists have acknoWl-
edged the seriousness Of the movement. The fact
that 'suffragettes' are acting rtdiculously
proves nothing whatever 70 the character of the
claim If anything ridiculous It IS the effort
of some women to deprive others OF right which
they would never themselves be compelled to ex-
ercise.
Almost every living comedies that the
home has the first claim upon her time and
thought lust as the business by which he supports
himself and his family has the first claim upon a
mans time and thought. Neither of these facts
is logical barrier to the recording Of political
opinion on the part either the man OF the woman
in government where the whole people are sup
posed TO be represented
Whatever may be thought of this view Of things.
it has pa ssed beyond the stage of being regarded
as merely ridiculous or contemplate. The subject
should be treated with at least much dignity as
other questions the day. and the serious discus
sons of Intelligent women should be seriously and
impartially reported. VI c ).
December @ 1875