The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-10


refrain from doing anything to help
along because they have no vote and
think they can do nothing without Id.
Women are more concerned for proper
play grounds for children than men
and these will have to be secured while
our city Is young and there are vacant
places to be obtained for reasonable
consideration. Women want the best
water supply, the cleanest alleys, and
they realize fully the need OF a police
matron and for matrons at the railroad
stations etc How are we ever going
to have o chance to vote on these cues
tions that are so near to us ii we
don't first show that we are interested
in them by the agitation? It is gem
orally conceded that womans forte Is
talking. Let us inform ourselves fully
and then let us talk intelligently.
It would benefit every woman to
read the letter on franchise which fol-
lows. 1t was written by Mrs. Patten of
Larimore, the state superintendent of
franchise for the w. C. T. u. official
organ, The White Ribbon Bulletin. 1t
liz presented with the hope that you
will read whether you believe in wo-
man suffrage or not
MIS- r.. 1s WuuSrs
State Supt Press Work.
Letter From Supt. of Franchise.
Dear Sisters and Co Workers. AS
you are all aware that this department
Is one of the most important in our
state work from now on till the day
that we shall be crowned with the
duties of full citizenship, must urge
the Co operation of every white rib
boner of our state to hasten the day
that our women will be enfranchised.
The suffrage question has become a
very vital one throughout the whole
northwest. Every legislature has had
the question before it. In some states
action has been favorable, in some nm
favorable. Let us take the trouble TO
think and read concerning this sub
ject and let us confer together and
pass the word along from one to an
other until every woman in this fair
state knows the status Of woman suf-
frage in this country and in foreign
countries and is prepared to talk und-9
erstandingly upon the subject 1t is
worthy of most serious consideration
and the voters must see that we so re-
gard it. Let us as women unite with
all the wit, grace, earnestness and
energy which we can command in
making such an appeal to the men Of
our state as will convince them of the
justice and expediency of sharing with
us the duties and the crown of full
citizenship.
There is no doubt in my mind that
the county needs the vote of women.
am thoroughly in favor of any move
menr which will give women an OPP
portunity to do little civic house,
keeping for there is much to be done
that women can do much better than
men. I'm spite OF a general opinion TO
the contrar women are beginning to
live, and thy are living on the right
lines of purify, simplicity and truth"
While woman's authority has been
felt in all the various avenues of our
lives, it has been an authority with
out responsibility-and that is demor-
alizing to any nation. influence with
out responsibility is corrupt factor
in legislation. and no nation can rest
securely with this fault in its struc-
ture
In bringing the mothers vote into
our political life we secure the assist
ance Of a progressive force full of en-
couragement for the future Of our
state. The mother will consider far
more than the father the morality of
the man in Office who will make and
enforce the laws under which her chill
dren will live, and she will use her in
f1uence and her vote to secure the best
sort of office holder for the municipal
good. This was clearly demonstrated
by the story of Judge Lindsays re-
election to the Juvenile court in Dem
yer last fall. 1t was to have been eX-
pected that women, both as voters and
workers, would be strong for this man
whom the enemy had marked for de-
feat. The women showed that they
were just as capable of scratching their
ballots as the men.
The reason why the women of to-
day are asking for equal rights and
opportunities for their sex are too
many to be given at this time, but
first, would say, IL the ballot is worth
anything to a man, it is worth just as
much to a woman, and for the same
reasons. IF by the ballot man can
best protect his interests, so can wo-
man." II will assuredly prove the best
weapon of protection, and in that alone
Lies, our power to execute our will and
our wish. / want the ballot because
my whole nature rises in indignant
protest against the unjust discrimina-
ton which debars our intelligent Amer
lean women from any participation in
the administration Of it's government.
and leaves them defenseless before the
law, while 1t welcomes to the place of
power the scum OF every nation except
China and allows it to dictate a sys-
tenn that let's the vices loose, to prey
upon all that we must love and prize,
and / say with Rev. Anna Shaw, that
noble champion of our cause, that "any
nation that ties the hands of it's
motherhood and then licenses saloons
to rob her of her dearest and best,
ought to be ashamed to unfurl the flag
of liberty"
The laws are made for posterity, and
surely no one will refuse to acknowl-
edge that the mothers OF our race
know what the children need. The vote
for ali is demanded more for the sake
of the children who are our future cit
liens, than for the exercise of any
franchise. 1t is the cry OF the loftiest
principle in humanity. the spirit of
justice, fairness, generosity. and un-
selfishness. 1t Is an appeal for the flu
ture citizens upon whom we place our
hope and faith that we ask for the es-
tablishment OF equal suffrage in Amer
lea.