Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-01-08
IA Sensible Women Want to Vote?


sight variation of this threadbare OBJ
ircfion. The New York Times declared
IN one of its frequent illuminating edito-
rails on the woman question: Sensible
women do not want the right of suf-
fr9ga" The phraSeology IS somewhat
surprising, as The Times IN discussing
rhp subject has often assured its read
ers that the suffrage is not right, :"
but merely privilege which 0ne-half
fine people think best to withhold from
the other half. II really seems incred-
ibIc thar any sensible woman should not
wish to possess every right which is
legally hers, whether she makes use of
il or not. The best answer to The
Times statement, however, is to con
slider some of the women who have said,
aud those who say now, that they do
want the suffrage.
No more ilMstrious names of women
are connected with the American Revo-
luton than those of Abigail Adams.
Mercy Otis Warren (sister of James
Otis and wife of Gen. WARREN. and
Hannah Lee Corbin (sister of Gen Pich-
ard Henry Lee and wife of a generaD.
All protested against the exclusion of
women from the political rights granted
70 men. The names of Lydia Maria
Child Maria Weston Chapman, Abby
Kelly Foster, and the Grimke sisters are
inseparably connected with those of Gar
L
who carried on the struggle for the abo-
hton of slavery, and all demanded the
right to vote. Lucretia Mott was a
power in the Society of Friends for more
than half a century; no man ever had
the ability to refute the logic of Lucy
Stone: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Su-
san +. Anthony had no superiorS in
broad craftsmanship and strong philo-
sophical argument. and these four wom-
en- were the leaders of the movement for
woman suffrage through two genera
tons DR.. Elizabeth Blackwell. founder
Of the first Woman's Medical College
and Infrmary; Elizabeth Peabody. the
philanthropist; Harriet Beecher Stowe:
B0rOthea Dix. government Superinten-
dent Of women nurses during the Civil
war; Anna Dickinson, whose oratory
stirred the whole nation in that critical
period; Mary A. Livermore, immortal
lied by her work ON the sanitary com
mission; Clara Barton, founder of the
National Red Cross; Julia Ward Howe,
scholar and rreeformer;, Myra Bradwell,
lawyer and editor of the Chicago Legal
News for generation; Harriet Hosmer.
the sculptor: Maria Mitchell, the as
tronomer-all of these women will for
ever stand in history as pronounced ad-
vocates of equal suffrage.
But this scarcely begins the list of
eminent women who have demanded en-
Frances E. Willard noble leader of the
vast temperance army; Mrs Leland
Stanford, whose able administration of
her husbands great fortune is so well
known; Mrs. Russell Sage, who is now
50 wisely performing a similar duty;
Jane Adams, illustrious exponent Of So
clal service; Rev. Anne Garlin Spencer
associate of Felix Adler in his large
work for ethical culture; Florence Kelly.
executive secretary of the National Con
Sumers' league, devoting her life to the
problems of child labor; DIR. NJ. Carey
Thomas, president of Bryn Mawr college
and noted for her executive ability: DR.
Mary e. Woolley, president of Mount
Holyoke college: Elizabeth Jordan, for
the past nine years editor of Harpers
Bazar Rev. Anna Howard Shaw. presi-
dent of the National Suffrage assOcia-
uon without a superior as an orator;
Carrie Chapman Gait president of the
International Suffrage alliance and un-
surpassed in administrative power.
II IS, indeed, an unjust discrimination
to select names for this list. An exam
nation of the roster of international and
national organizations of women will
show that fully three-fourths of their
presidents are. strong advocates of the
franchise for their sex. and this is equal
ly true of the women in every communi-
~ who are connected with any phase of
Ifs public life. That the majority of
women are not yet asking for the suf-
ira@e IS probably true, but the statement
that sensible women do not want it is
absurd on its face and entirely unsup-
l'rted by facts.-Harper's Bazaar.
~O...o-
Elderly Views of Christmas
Both were grandmothers, and in their
appearance candidly revealed their
northumberland. Their figures were
corseted, but not beyond nature; their
gowns were suitable, not noticeable; their
Ldlr was guiltles of puffs or Crimping
"r artificiality, just drawn back natuF-
any and rather loosely. Both wore plain
-2id bands rings, no diamonds or other
suffering precious stones.
lhey were taking luncheon together
Iae one evidently at the invitation of
'"e Others and they had not met for
q long time, Judging from the pleasant
interchange of personalities. Presently
tdeir conversation ran into such broad
tolerant veins that the listener could not
H..p listening, and even prolonging her
u luncheon to hear more. There We're
.'arAeS OF hunor, comments ON new
."oNS, an appreciation of daughters-in-
""; finally, best of all, a bit of talk
.at Christmas, precluded by:
b!e cannot afford to worry after
'rh'nG sixty" from the guest.
letter learn not to worry before six
y. flashed back the hostess
How most Of US women are wearing
ourselves out over Christmas" continued
.l' guest, charitably including herself,
unnecessarily. one was sure. For the
iasJ two or three weeks | have been
itching the four women l know best,
.oH II w0uld be altogether too bad if
."He weren't u humorous side to it
go see the lines deepen in their faces
.R their brOws pucker, as the stress
getting ready for Christmas over
lakes them"
Christmas has changed since our
-'s said the hostess meditatively. "My
mother and father thought all Christmas
-,}.erFances sheer folly and frivoity. |
o@e the present day way far better:
eAy, as everybody breaches and very
."' practice. we overdo it, We ought
make ii Just a glad, cheerful day,
~ as happy for as many people as we
.. IN the simplest of ways"
lie isn't so very long at the long
mi The guest commented cheerfully.
.H Older l grow the more / believe
HaFlng all the merriment and all the
+tAl!eSs pleasure we can. / remember
F1T