Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-03-20
DALLAS POLK COUNTY, OREGON MARCH 20
THINKS 1T WOULDN'T WORK
Mrs. Duniway Does Not Approve
Observers Plan to Settle Woman
Suffrage Question.

PORTLAND, Or, Mar. 16-To the
Editor. u am in grateful receipt Of q
clipping from the OBSERVER OF March
10 with my printed letter and your
comments. Now. will you not, in all
fairness, permit me to show you, and
those of your voting readers who may
share your perplexity, the one possible
way to settle the equal rights question,
over which you profess to be in doubt.
Can you not be led to see that you
have but to unlock the door and leave
the settlement of the question to women
to decide at every succeeding election
after the ides of June?
I have just read my article and
your comments to woman who is
canvassing for books. She is trying
to raise money to pay her political
superior's taxes. She sighed as she
arose to go, and said: THAT editors
heart is all right, but he ought to
know that there isn't one woman in
fifty who would dare to urge her hus-
band to vote for equal rights, when
she knows he will work and vote
against her anyhow" "Will your
husband vote 'no'?" I asked kindly.
"Of course, he WILL" she answered,
with bitter smile. HE says woman's
place is at home," and she went limp
ing down the street toward the court
house.
Now, Mr.. Editor, cannot the women
of Oregon who are compelled to earn,
or help to earn, their homes-if they
have any-depend upon men like you
to annul the votes Of anti-husbands
who are financial failures and of anti
bachelors who do not even pretend to
support any woman?
Blackstone says that when any
doubt arises as to decision, the ques-
tion ought always to be decided in
favor of the larger liberty. or the
less than score of women whom Mrs.
Wilbur raked the entire state to secure
as hackers for her would -be-obstruc-
tive policy, we have no word Of GEN.
sure. They know not what they do.
The loyal wives aud mothers of Ore
CONS honorable men are standing
mute and helpless before the locked
doors OF liberty to which you gentle
men, armed with ballots, are holding
the key. Our only emblem in this
unequal struggle is flag of truce.
Our liberties are in your hands, and
we sincerely hope you will not compel
US to repeat this unequal contest in
1910, as we surely must if you fail to
do the duty that lies before you now.
ABIGAIL SCOTT DUNIWAY,
Mother of men. aud President
o. s. E. s. A.
Having to confess, with all
due humility, that we belong to
that "class Of bachelors who do not
support any woman" Mother Duni-
way will probably think, and rightly,
too, that our opinion on any question
where family rights, land especially
women's rights,) is concerned, is not
entitled to any great amount OF con-
sideration. However, while passing
through life. VIC have made a few
observations by the way, and conse-
quently must disagree with the asser-
ton that the women would be afraid |
to ask their husbands to vote accord
ing to their wishes on this amendment.
We have observed that, as q rule,
when a woman wants anything, she
is not only not afraid to ask her
husband for it, but she usually keeps
after him, and makes life a burden
for him, until she gets 1t.
We believe that 80 out of every 100 |