University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1908-10-19
Would Give Girls Ballot,
To the Editor Of the University Missour,an

To the Editor Of the University Missourian:
1t would be a valuable experiment
to try straw ballot among the Uni
versity girls. Statistics in regard to
wOman's suffrage could lie gathered
The women in this University repre-
sent the educated class of American
women. They have delved into cOnsti-
tutional history and political economy
equally with the men except they have
worked harder. They understand party
principles, and theories of government.
The straw ballot would find out if they
care to apply their knowledge. See
If they are Indifferent. Who wouldn't
want to delve into the heat of this
campaign? Every girl has the same
latent feeling that the young man has
before his first election. But she keeps
it latent because when she mentions
it every one she knows howls at her.
Give her the real suffrage and see if
she is Indifferent. In Colorado forty
two per cent of the population are
women and forty eight per cent of the
votes are polled by women
No logical reason has ever been ad-
vanced to show why women should
not vote. Next to Indifference the
greatest argument is that the political
world makes a woman masculine, and
that her home duties are too absorbing
for her to spare the time to vote. |
Does a lawyer lose clients because he |
votes: Does a reporter fail to turn in
enough copy because he does his duty
as a citizen?
There was the same struggle over
rights as there is over suf-
frage. A married woman was not al
Owed to control her property until
within the last fifty years. The argu-
nent is raised that women ought not
20 vote because they cannot protect
heir country in time of war. If they
.ould vote there would be fewer wars.
t IS held that women have not the
light to suffrage because they are not
aPable of holding office. They are
more capable of holding some offices {
han are men. Jane Adams made the
'est garbage collector Chicago ever had. I
suffrage is not taken from foreign born
esIdents because they are not eligible
be President of the United States. D
The primary business of woman is I
Onceded to be looking after her chill a
rem but that does not preven. her
rom indulging in few things on the
de. The woman who votes will be II
rtter able to instruct her sons in the r
utles of citizenship. Lax laws affect a
omen more than men because she l
neds more protection. She introduces
into the law for her sympa- O
lles and emotions are the strongest II
lase OF her temperament. Judge Lind a.
Y admits that he was able to carry ii
so successfully his child rescue cam al
ll%n because of the wOmen's vote in IN
dorado. In the four states where
omen have entire suffrage the prob
m OF child labor has been eliminated. tn
AT the present time who are women's
lltical equals-idiots, criminals. in &c
nts, and foreigners. She is plainly wi
t of her class in this classification. III
Experience has shown the state is ca
st ruled by the suffrage of the great gr
number of citizens The American pc
men are fifty-five per cent of the +
tire American people.
However even the man who would
mt to keep his wife and daughters !
ay from the polls is forced to admit -
It partial suffrage is desirable if /
necessity. There is a certain j
nieipal housekeeping concerning the uo
inlng OF streets, the inspection of fin
ements, and certain sanitary condi- no,
rs that women ought to control. h,
men should have large interest in FL,
school laws. they should inspect ,or
sons, morgues, factories for violation D..
child labor laws, sale of drugs. And a,.,
control this special phase of gov tho
ment she must have at least partial S,o
rage. CO.ED