The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-04-29
Shall Women Vote z
Editor of The Hustler:

Editor of The Hustler:
Please permit me few words
IN defense of those women who
are seeking the ballot.
The question seems to be
strangely misunderstood. First.
let me thank Mr.. S. H. Hudgins
for his kindly, practical article
in last weeks issue of The Hust--
Ter. No cause can be advanced
by an exhibition of prejudice or
i'll will, but the question of womans
suffrage attracts so much atten--
ton that it surely merits can,
did, imnartial discussion of intel
lgent men and women. The.
usual plea against it is the neg
lected husband and children, and
the uncared-for home" These
evils are not confined to the homes.
of suffragists. It is simply alb
surd to say that man who stud
les the political questions of the
day, and casts his ballot for good
government, must necessarily
neglect his business as doctor,
lawyer, farmer, or whatever his
calling. Why is it less absurd
when applied to women ?
In one state alone there are
over two hundred thousand mar
ried women working in mills. We
hear nothing of their neglected.
homes. There are thousands of
men who vote annually, who nei-
ther wish nor seek political pre-
ferment. Cannot a woman cast.
a ballot for what is right and pure
without demanding reward If
I know my sex, they can.
Under existing laws a woman
must forever remain minor In.
relation to the government. Yet,
she has right to ownership
may buy, SELL sue and be sued,
| inherit and transfer estates, she
may be indicted, imprisoned and
punished with death. Surely this
proves her profound interest in
state affairs equally with men,,
and to deprive her of all authority
| is a grave injustice, destroying
} her individual rights, which her
natural relation to society confers'
upon her.
;! Ex-Governor Stone Of Colorado
has said: ''The giving of the bal
lot to women has not put so many
women up for office, but it has
compelled the men to put up a
better class of men for office
holding" Is not that a great
advantage ?
In all civilized countries women
are steadily ascending to the goal
Of their rightful place perfect.
equality with men. Occupying,
as she does, such an important
relation to man, she should be-
recognized by the state as de-
serving a place of influence that
shall be felt in national affairs
for good.
By natural right she is citizen
! of the state, and as such she de-
mands recognition by the laws of
the land.
Woman's influence would be
exalting to politics, and salutary
upon national and individual char
acter. Her refining virtues and
intelligent political honesty would
raise our nation in moral power
and true greatness. Give women
the right to vote, and in all meas
ures of state and national policy
that look to the elevation of man
kind she would rally with such
devotion as only women are capa-
BILE of, and would make their de-
feat impossible.
| Our own State of North Caro-
lima is progressive, but also very
conservative, so the day of uni
versal suffrage is yet far distant.
However, our women are think
ing, and some time, when a num-
Der sufficient to show that we are
in earnest, ask this great privi-
lege Of the chivalrous North Car
DINA men, they will, as ever in.
the past, grant our request.
II