The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-30
viii Struggle For and Obtain
Right Of Self-Gov-
crnnent.
AN APPEAL FOR FAIR PLAY
When Her Liberty Is Won.
World Will Be Sancr and
Sweetcr.
crnillent.
ITO East Franklin street,

Ito East Franklin street,
Richmond. Va.
The Editor OF The Timcs-D Dispatch,
Richmond:
Ny Dear Sir-In your just and kind
~ editorial OF sunday,the Esd. entitled
s'.Syhat Woman Has Done Without the
Ballot you close with the pertinent
inquiry: IF they have done all this
without the ballot, may we not we'll
ask, What could they not do with the
ballot?'"
In most OF the matters OF life we
give some weight to expert testimony.
We say. How has 1t worked" and
& What has been done?" and "Give US
the facts" and you have been there;
tell us about It." The most startling
exception to this rule OF common sense
lies at present III the way in which a
ablest, but still great section-of the
public regards the struggle OF woman
for her political freedom. Man and
woman, this section is astigmatic. It
in looking around a mythical corner.
What 1t sees around there, heaven only
knows!-some optical illusion or other.
I should like, II may, to quote to
tair-minded community little expert
Testimony. 1 will do 1t as shortly as
can, eliminating much that 1 would
like to use. AS Virginian-just as
much a yirginian as any OF you; as
woman with the welfare Of all alike
in this great State just as strongly at
heart as any man of you, be he COVER
nor or mayor or Judge or legislator.
can possibly have, 1 ask you to listen
10 little testimony on the subject of
the woman's vote-why 1t Is needed
and what 1t does.
Personally..I do not so much care to
make this plea, I'VE will improve mat
ters'' think that we will; am very
sure that we Will. and that alone would
be thousand times worth the fight
we are making. But am not sure that
that Is the main point in the ISSUE /
think 1t Is rather that women are
fast awakening to political conscious
hess. That being the case, by new
law of their being, they will struggle
for and attain their right of self-gov-
eminent, and all the Kings horses and
all the Kings men will not prevent
their final success. Personally, i
think this is the main issue, upon
which hangs the other. that when her
liberty is won it will be a saner and a
ssweeter world for the man, the woman
aud the child. Were a man should
say Improvement be -. I see no
reason why you as well as l should
net participate in government. 1 like
/ foi r,1n r1 NJ 7
do. II am ashamed to look the word
.ehivalry' in the face" But that Is
my own point OF view.
Resolutions Endorsed.
IS This year both houses OF the National
Parliament OF Federated Australia In
dorsed unanimously the following res
olutions:
/. That this House testifies to the
facts that after sixteen years expert
ence OF woman suffrage in various
parts Of Australasia, and nine years
reform has justified the hopes of It's
supporters and falsitied all the fears
and prophecies of disaster voiced by
Its opponents.
2. That. as foreseen by It's advocates,
Its effects have been (a) to gradually
educate women to sense OF their re-
sponsibilily. in public affairs; (b) to
give moreP-romnence to social and do
mestic legislation.
9. That Australian experience con-
rinces this House that to adopt woman
suffrage is simply to apply to the po-
litlcsl sphere that principle OF Cow
eminent that secures the best result
in the domestic sphere-the mutual
cooperation OF men and women for the
individual and general welfare.
So the Australian Parliament. Let me
add tho testimony of Lady Holder, the
wife OF the Speaker OF the House OF
Representatives orFederated Australia.
Australian experience has conclusive.
~ disposed OF the objection that wo-
men have no aptitude for politics or
vote practically as much as the men;
practically all the women vote and
ythe truer equality in which they stand"
Abundant Testimony.
New Zealand Is regarded somewhat
as the model child among countries.
The testimony as to the value OF wo-
man In public life from this island is
SO decided and so abundant that 1t Is
dihcult to pick and choose. There is
4 plethora OF witnesses But Will you
listen moment to Charles Edward
Russell: TN New Zealand the women
Interest in public affairs They have
proved that they possess both. and
4 while they have no general ambition
or desire for parliamentary honors, and
display no sex antagonism, they regard
q 1heir right to vote for representatives
4 n ? 49, 7