The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-04

| should not vote, and we have not the
least doubt that taking them by and
large, they would make far better use
OF the Suffrage than the men; at least
they could not do any worse with the
ballot, II they had 1t, than the lords
of creation have done with 1T in this
land OF so-called universal freedom.
We were told last April in New
York in an excellent speech made by
| former Senator Patterson. of Colorado
| how we'll woman suffrage had worked
in that State without defemnizing the
| women and only with advantage to
| the best interests OF that Common
| wealth.
1t was upon this point that Harvey
said last week: "Find any nation
| state or city where equal suffrage has
| wrought injury to the common veal;
| find any nation. state or city wherein
repeal of equal suffrage once adopted
has ever been seriously advocated, or
even proposed; then and not till then
viii the question of practicability
merit consideration"
Many serious, students of the suf-
frage problem have wel-nigh reached
the conclusion that man suffrage in
this country is failure. Look at the
men who are put in offlce--are they
a credit to the race, speaking gen.
orally? Look at the corruption in
high places--are tho women respon-
sible for that? Look at the weakness
and indecision with which great
economic and social problems are
treated by the law-makers of the
country-arc the women in any sense
to blame for any of the things that
have happened in this country to dis
credit it in the eyes of the world? OF
course, there are ignorant women
there are ignorant men also, hun
dreds of thousands OF them, millions of
them; but that does not prevent
the men from voting and from con-
trolling, practically, the public affairs
of the country.
One Of the fundamentals of this
great Government of ours is that there
shall be no taxation without represent.
tation. That was one OF the moving
independence nearly one hundred and
fifty years ago. Yet in this country,
speaking generally, the women who
own property are absolutely without
representation. Harvey noted the fact
the other day that 40 per cent. of the
stockholders of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road are women. They can and do
vote for directors of that company.
but when the State or Nation proposes
arbitrary rate reductions or excessive
taxation that would sweep away the
dividends. who decides? Who has the
power? Who elect the men who make
the laws? Those who own nearly one
half of the great property? Not they
It is so all around the circle. The
women have no rights the men are
bound to respect. They live and serve
and die. That's all.
There are four States in the Union
in which women enjoy the suffrage on
the same terms with men-Wyoming,
Colorado, Utah and Idaho. In nine
teen other States women enjoy the
right of voting for school boards. In
Kansas they have the right of suffrage
in municipal affairs. In Montana and
Iowa they are allowed to vote upon
questions relating to municipal in
debtedness, and in Louisiana women
taxpayers have the right to vote upon
questions of public expenditures. In
successive amendments to the state
Constitutions, giving full franchise to
women, have been submitted to the
men voters, but have been defeated.
The National Woman Suffrage Asso-
citation is conducting the agitation
for woman suffrage. We are told
by one of the encyclopedias that Cop
position to the movement is based
upon the general hesitation of the
existing electorate to introduce a new
and possibly radica! element into poi-
tics. This natural conservatism, we
are told, sis supplemented by the or
ganized activities of business interests
that it is supposed would be adversely
affected by woman suffrage, as. for
example the brewing and distilling
and allied interests.' The Equal
Franchise Society of New York is
working on the best lines for the ac-
complishment of their purpose. The
question of woman suffrage will not
down--"freedorn's battles once begun,
though baTed oft. are ever Won"
Some of the most conservative men
in the country are in favor Of woman
suffrage. Notable among these was
JusticeD. j. Brewer, Of the United States
Supreme Court. whose death is deplored
throughout the country. He was
an ardent woman suffraaist because he
believed that as she was governed she
ought to have some part and lot in
the form of government and in the
selection Of those chosen to administer
its affairs.
Harvey concluded his address with