Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-11-11

aittnoe o. the oVerH heimlne mh4ofitN u
women themselves. Barring q small
number of noisy. assertive and altogether
unrepresentatiye females, there is no indi'
cation that the American woman seeks OF
desires the right to vote. We will moi
undertake to prove this, for We consider
il well enough established in the common
mind. Accepting it, what then
Observation-Disclosures will smile blandly
and say such a finding counts for moth
ing. Give woman the right to vote just
the same. Let those who want TO exer-
else 1t do so; let those who do not, 60
without. Because many women, syen a
majority, would not vote il they had a
chance Is no reason v by those who want
to should be refused, providing it is right
and just In itself. Let US examine this
argument little.
Suppose our country were to be invaded
by multitude OF aliens, as numerous as
our own people. Suppose the great mass
OF them were content and even desired
not to have the privileges and responsi-
bilities OF suffrage cast upon them. Sup
pose a small minority only among them
clamored for 1t, in season and out Of
season, with violence that caused grave
doubt as to their capacity to use the bal
lot intelligently. Suppose these aliens to
be mentally our equals, but in the mass
uDaccustomed to the consideration OF
public matters, and by reason of their
station in life unlikely to give serious
thought to them. Suppose them to be
unequal physically to the carrying out OF
policies that they might easily declare
for, leaving the execution OF these poll
cies to the same forces as at present. I'm
der these conditions, would it be deemed
best to enfranchse the whole body mere
ly that few might realize what they
were striving for7 We believe no ons
would seriously favor such step. Yet
the parallel is close to the cause of woman
suffrage.
The exercise Of suffrage carries with 1t
grave responsibilities, and these are quite
often minimized or overlooked. To vote
honestly and intelligently requires special
study and opportunity for forming judg-
ment, based not merely on reading or lis
tening to oratory, but first hand, by
everyday observation. Unless a woman
forsakes her home and family and joins
man in outside avocations, she is distinct
ly handicapped in this way. She cannot
deal with public matters in the same
light that she is accustomed TO settle
affairs of her household. Then it is true
that any taste for such things must large
ly be torced-it is not natural, as in the
case OF man. The average woman feels
her cares sufficient already, without add
ing others. This is not assuming any
mental inferiority on the part OF woman,
but is an acceptance OF conditions that
exist. We will concede that woman is
taking large and growing part in pub
lie affairs, and in many individual cases
is probably as well qualified as some men
to use the..ballot intelligently, but most
Of these women have no desire for it, and
It would be unfair to the rest to cast the
burden upon them.
Why unfair Well, women ought not
IN racaiva ha franoh;sa ,,,,t;I a =.
ably assured that the votes to follow will
be fairly representative OF the womanhood
Of America. No ballots should be doled
out to the class of rampant shouters who
disgust both sexes, and who would be a
distinct menace to our constituency,
while the class OF women best fitted to
speak for their kind, either by necessity
or choice do not appear at the polls. That
would be an addition to our suffrage quite
impossible. Nor should we leave it in
hit-or'miss way without reasonable pre-
cautions to assure full and free expres-
sion from womankind Of voting age
We're it at all likely that women would
accept the duties Of suffrage with the
same avidity that some OF them seek its
exercise, it would be quite another story. |
Here in Vermont we have very limit |
ed form of woman suffrage-the right of
tax-paying women to vote in school meet /
inRs. 1t amounts to nothing. All prop.
ositions looking toward an extension Of
woman suffrage ia this state have been
on similar basis. 1t ia not fair or right
to women themselves. II the suffrage is
to be given them, why not the whole shot
at once And to- all women, not ths
favored few with taxable property. Treat
them just like men. Make them nav
poll tax as men do-for the same reason
the benefit Of citizenship. (How many
would, we wonder, IL it were voluntary /
How many would like that as the price Of
suffrage How many would enjoy going
to jail for its non-payment, all for the
boon OF voting How many would not
prefer things as they are y
Woman suffrage is not a future limos
sibilityi in fact, We believe it wilI.come in
due time. But that will be when woman
is materially different than now in many