The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-10
Reply to Mrs. II.

Edltof Inc Vlrglnfan:
kindly grant me space In the
columns of your excellent journal to
reply to the article headed, shall
Women Voter" which was published
In the issue dated March and was
signed Mrs. b., King George, Va" AS
the first article on this subject was
written by or at least bore the signa-
ture of Mamie II. Doherty." IL is a
little mystifying that the article II.
reply to mine should be signed Mrs
II" 1t is impossible under the cir
cumstances for me to say whether /
am discussing the matter with one
or two female suffragettes However.
this is a small matter and | shall
proceed to pay my respects to Mrs.
BIS astounding statements / .sas
astounding statements, for In M.
article, took up one by one the argu-
f'at.s4ts 4tfttffts tfftit-fe fft-t4 Asatt-
ME II. Doherty," and ii ] rattle,.
''argumentative dry bones or dealt in
sentimental platitudes and discredited
dogmas" Ii was owing To the fact that
Mamie b. Doherty'' alias Mrs. Il -
had paraded such things and all /
did was to- expose their fsilacy. Then
it is unfortunate that the writer
should use such expressions and show
such spirit. Isn't 1t strange too If I
ratified old argumentatiVe dry bones
and dealt in sentimental platitudes
and discredited dogmas" in my article
as this King George female suffragett.
charges. that she would allow such
things to make her lose self-control
and use such refined ca expressions
as "laughingly absurd" voice from
the tomb silly bugaboos. political
Bluebeard's chamber etc? Sarcasm.
and ridicule are poor substitutes tor
argument, as a discerning public MAJ
readily see. / am no adept in that
kind of warfare. but intend in this
article to get at truth through logical
processes as best / can. If the spirit
If Mrs. BIS article Is the one that
CharaCterizes female suffragettes
everywhere q charitably hope not
then say again although Mrs. II.
may call 1t the old melodramatlc
slush" God save our wives, mothers
and sweethearts from female suf-
fragism,
1t was unfortunate for Mrs. b. that
she went to monarchical countries anu
cited the cases of Queen Elizabeth and
Queen Victoria as shining example,
OF women's fitness for governmental
affairs" for however good and great
these female rulers We're, ii must not
be forgotten that they were greatly
indebted to the lords and premiers
as well AS to parliament for advice
and for holding them i'm check The
great pe,ver In England Is hcr nar
Namcnt as ia congress in free Aneri-
ca. Take for instance the influence
and power of a man like Gladstone in
his kingdom. How wonderful II was,
Mrs. b thinks my reasons for opnos-
ing women mixing in politics Is NOR,
worthy of a Turkish despot than d
citizen of an enlightened democracy.
Pretty severe | admit but I stand II, .
ground all the same and contend thai
WoTnan's true and hest sphere Is IN,
home. where If she does her t;o1-
given duties she won't have the ttr,,
nor, the chance to lie a ~hof htslsV
plant" nor "a rare exotic To he ken,
under a glass" either. am teunted
right here TO refer TO what Paul sav,
about how women should ke.n -.
hama and not be hitsphadies in athe,
mems matters. etc. and to what i.
said in the last chapter Of Proverbs
about the model wife. hut Mrs "a
might call these references "a vote.
from the tomb or Something else
similar.
In conclusion let me saw YES | know
/ that in many instances women are
making their own living in the worId
and that in some instances she &
I supporting one or more men
know that some women are property
/ owners and pay taxes to tho govern.
( ment. An this is Ia her credit h,,,
| because some women are making q
living for themselves and Others owr
propertv and paw taxes II doesn't roI.
! low that universal female snffrag.
should lac had when il is d known fact
that some of our baet ,roy,ap do ~,