The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-10
1ur cuIEr END OF WOMAN.

A highly respected correspondent.
writing from Amherst. asks The
Times-Dispatch these searching ques-
tons:
Are the civil. political and religious
conditions in Utah and Colorado SO SUI
perior, since tho enfranchisement OF
women. TO those In Old Virginia that
It (The -D!spatch) readily lends
! itself to this movement lthe Woman
Suffrage Mover.ent), which, l am per-
suaded. the women OF Virginia do not
| endorse? Would the dubious honor or
the ballot glorlfy in any way her d.
| vinely appointed task Of bearing and
! rearing children, or dignity her exalted
! position as the guardian and trustee OF
| future generations?'
The Times-Dispatch does not lend y
self to any movement and 1t has not
allied itself with the sutfragette
movement" as our correspondent
asseveratcs. 1t has simply expressed
the opinion Of the true Southern gen.
tIeman it Is that tho men and women
who are engaged In this movement
have great deal on their side that is
worthy of serious and respectful con-
siderat!on Tho fact. II, indeed, 1t be
the fact, that 'in Virginia and most
Of the Southern States the property
rights of women are secured" does
not leave the matter really in much
better shape: yet her rights are not
Secured as, somehow, we have an
idea that women ought to be worth at
least as much to the State, in That they
are living, breathing, thinking. work
ing units, and deserving of as much
consideration in the eyes of the law as
their material possessions are. Be-
sides. such recognition as they have
for their property rights has been OBJ
tanned only after generations OF neg
lect and by the hardest effort against
the opposition OF the men who have
resisted all appeals for the recogni-
ton Of the civil rights of woman.
Our correspondent wants to know
whether the civil, political and religi-
Gus conditions IN Utah and Colorado
! are superior to those In Old Virginia--
| probably we should say Mrs. Virginia,
! out Of respect to the Views Of another
protesting correspondent: but the
question does not appear altogether
| pertinent to the subject under review.
It would seem rather that the inquiry
should take this form Are the civil,
political and religious conditions In
! Utah and Colorado better since the
enfranchisement Of the women in
those States than they Were before
the women were set free? Put in that
way. there would be some basis for in
structive comparison; but in the form
in which It is presented by our corre-
| spondent, we should say that slavery
| in Mrs. Virginia would be far better
under almost any condition than free
| dom In Utah or Colorado. Certainly.
Utah has not lost anything in pollti-
cal or religious standing since the wo-
men of that State We're clothed with
the franchise: indeed. since tho time
when woman OF Utah was glori-
fled only In the exercise of "her d.
vincly appointed task of bearing and
rearing children" there has been q
most wholesome upl!ft in her post
ton and happiness. and self-respect
The women OF Colorado have not los
any Of their charms since tho right O.
suffrage was conferred upon them. ant
the state has not suffered from thoi,
work at the polls or In the politica
life Of the state. AS we have said
| however, no fair comparison can bs
| made between tho condition OF Utah
and Colorado and that of Virginia he
cause In hse former the women hav,
tho right to vote and in Virginia thes
layc not, II IS probably not too muc:
to say, however that Virginia has los
\ nothing In money or influence since
secured woman IN her propert.
rights. we do not helleye It wouls
J lose anything By occurring wona,
the right to vote although we shout,