Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-04-07

| ism so intense as to be retroactive and
| destructive that instead OF using such
| remedies as are reasonable and mod
crate, they attack vice in way that
oifcnds and will ultimately do more harm
than good. Bit will not experience tend
TO correct this evil.
Again. it is said that there is daily
growing strength of character which
comes not little from familiarity with
public affairs, and that out OF that
strength OF character will be developed
greater capacity for improving public
the days go by, realize that voting is
duty and not paStime.
Mere voting may not give the needed
qualities, but as they more and more
take part in public affairs much of OBJ
lection to the franchise will disappear,
and unless human nature in the one sex
is different from that in the other, the
very effort they make in these several
directions will develop day by day
greater ability to do that which is wise,
to act with moderation and yet with firm
ness, and to bring about the better day
which we all believe is coming.
More than that, the heart OF the sex
is against the terrible distractions of
war; they will be found a mighty po-
litical force in favor of the settlement
OF international disputes By arbitration,
and against the resort to the sword or
the muskct Indeed, when universal
| female suffrage comes, it may be
affirmed that the ironclad will be seen
only in pictures and known only in his
| tory. The sweet song OF the angels
about the nanger at Bethlehem will be-
come the universal song of humanity.
But putting all the arguments pro and
con together, whatever may be the abb
stract right, the real question is prac-
teal one. How does woman's suffrage
work when tried? In this nation four
States, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and
Idaho, have granted full suffrage, and in
! at least the first three of them it has
been in existence long enough for sub
stantial results. The conditions of life
in them differ, and doubtless that differ
ence may affect the iull significance OF
the results. One thing is true OF all.
| There has been no organized effort to
repeal the grant. Whatever may be iso-
! lated opinions, the general mass of the
voters are satisfied Indeed, few have
expressed antagonistc views. A short
time since the papers reported an inter-
view with the late governor of Colorado,
in which he declared woman suffrage a
failure, but he promptly denied any such
| interview If the citizens OF these States
find nothing Objectionable in woman's
suffrage, a natural conclusion is that no
injury has resulted thercirom. While it
may be said that general belief in the
inpossibility OF revoking the grant may
lave prevented any organized effort in
that direction, yet certainly the men and
women in those States are not so tiinid
as to fear giving expression TO their
Jews. and we should have heard such
expression and the reasons therefor 1t
is true that this silence may be some
what in the nature of negative testimony,
but il is not without weight. Especially
IS this true when the declarations OF its
friends in its favor are many and strong.
Doubtless some opposition may come
from personal ambition and expectation
defeated by the actions OF the women
voters Thus Judge Lindsay, of the
Juvenile Court in Denver, who has at
lractcd much attention by his good worl:
IN that Court, after having been denied
a denomination by each OF the great po-
litical parties, came out as an indie
pendent candidate and was elected
mainly, it is said, by the votes of won-
IN who appreciated his labors and de-
termincd that the young culprits OF that
rity should not be deprived of the benc
1t Of his judgment and experience. i
would be strange if the defeated candi-
Ciates did not feel and express them
elves against woman's suffrage. Blu
heir complaint is really testimony 20 it.
value.
The relative number OF the two sexes
Ike industries and some other matters de
, serve consideration The census O
looo--that OF 1910 not having as yet beer
; 'a;en-2ivcS 20 Wyoming 58,lSt male
and 34,.347 females, or q total OF 02,53I
= that OF Colorado, 295,352 males and Ar