The sun., 1909-02-28

or as explainer, but rather as il she would
prefer to ignore subject which she has
found facing her at every turn.
Il know she says. that Mrs. Wards
statement that she believed the women
ofAmerica were not as greatly interested
in the universal suffrage movement as
they were advertised to be and that If
they really wanted it they could have it.
which she made after she returned TO
England. created a more or less un-
friendly feeling. / hear that when Mrs.
Ward was visiting Mrs. James Field in
Boston she is said not to have mani
tested especial desire to meet the women
pledged TO support this great movement
and ! assume the same lack Of desire
was shown here.
The prominent women she did meet
by request, being allied with the anti
suffrage movement, naturally gave her
a certain impression, which she voiced
when she returned. ! know that at one
reception where a dozen prominent
woman sufragists were present, the
subject was not broached. her opinion
not being known at that time.
nounced that | was an ardent supporter
of woman suffrage. and the consequence
is that the women I have met and have
desired TO meet ere the women at one
with me on this subject. | shall go ba ok
with perhaps an erroneous impression
of the strength Of the movement | am
advocating, just as Mrs. Ward returned
with a similar impression. the reason for
which ] have traced The truth OF the
matter for US both probably lies some
where between our judgments formed in
this way.
when Mrs, Ward was a young woman
che believed in suffrage for her sex
Later, when her horizon broadened and
she studied zea!ousy all the big political
and economic conditions, she veered
around. Her attitude is perfectly con-
sistent with her creed, bat the aston
ishing thing to me in that creed is that
she does not recognize the inevitable;
that instead of interesting herself in
the adjustment Of conditions which are
sure to come she is still holding fast to
the belief that those conditions may be
sverted. which they cannot be,
MY sister does not desire in any way
to hamper the activities or ambitions
of women. but she simply does not agree
as to the method in which those quail
ties should be exhibited She would
divert them into advisory channels.
and instead Of allowing them the voting
privilege she would prefer that they should
form kind OF court Of appeal without
any real authority to whom the commit
tees on child labor and matters edu-
cational and philanthropic especially
interesting TO our sex could refer for
alvice. 1t seems 10 me that such ad-
visory work would mean tremendous
aIuoupt Of trouble and time without
any real result at the end. Taking advice
and acting on it are two entirely different
prorosittons, as we all know
J aRrcs with my sister. however. on
many minor points. and we are quite
IN accord in our respect for the courage
OF each others convictions.
Practically ] am not very much in
favor OF the militant methods that have
made the campaign in London. and in
fact in all England. the wonder aud
amusement Of the whole civilized world;
and yet even when state that am not
quito In sympathy l have to admit that
II the campaign had not been waged with
this unreienting vigor we might not have
gone as far as we have in the last five
gears, and while think that Mrs. Pank-