Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-20
THOUGHTFUL WOMAN'S
SUFFRAGE VIEWS

zion ,hc Equal Franchise society OF
-. work and many other organiza-
tions representing the IDEAS oil eastern
u,omon ,mon this important SUBJECT
feel that | must enter u protest iese
tho attitude of DR.. Mary E. Bates as
exnressed in her interview III touay 5
ttoroId he taken as that of the great
hodv of American women who are ap-
healing for the equal franchise
TO my mind "the two most impor-
tant items for california women 10
remember" mamely seeking poh''eal
office and the formation of woman
marty as opposed to men, and inc
ore,tiop therefore of a sex antagonlsnO
are the only valid and logical afsu-
ments AGAINST woman suffrage 10
day. [ am sure that the great army ol
thoughtful, intelligent women III 'Ae
east who, increasingly day by aay'
are laving aside society and otiler
forms of both diversion ana "orh W
ioin in the advancement oil tiie
cause" are inspired rather with l'e
idea of the ultimate comradeshlp ol
men and women on all the Hi'es OF
social and civic endeavor than with tae
creation of sex antagonism.
There is work for all in the civic NE
of the nation. BY temperament ana by
training there are problems of chari'y'
philanthrophy, education. correetloh'
municipal housekeeping and sahltatioh
"a long list of different lines OF work
could be cited-in which women are
far better equipped to serve the state
than are men; and just so are there
other lines in which women, by rea-
sons of sex, physique, temperament
and above all inherent womanllness
should not seek to enter, and / believe
the great majority of women regard
participation in practical politics. OIL
ficeholding Except as isolated instances
may warranty, and forcing oneself INTO
positions of publicity and notoriety as
such.
AS no man can do the greatest,
noblest work that woman renders TO
the state--the bearing, rearing ana
training of the lives of its citizens-so
women should not seek to do the lesit-
innate work of man, the rougher work
in the battle of life. Each must do his
and her part Both are necessary to
the life of the nation. Each is rem
dering equality of service-who shall
say which is greater or worthier?
Women should be citizens because
they are women, with womans work
In the world as men should because
they are men with "A mans work to
do. The family is the foundation OF
the state and equal suffrage has every
where proven to be the most powerful
family bond and tie, the strengthener
of family life. and because men ana
women are different and because their
work in the world, both for the home
and state, is different is just the rea-
son why, in a true democracy, the
ballot should be equally granted 10 all
men and women who are neither de-
pendent, defective or delinquent. For
as President Taft says: "She is one
fundamental principle that applies 10
the whole thing-under a representa-
tive form of government the interests
of any particular set of people are
more likely to be advanced when rep
resented by one of themselves than by
one of another class, no matter how
altruistic that other class may be-
And so the great body of American
women ask for the ballot that they
may, as comrades with the men OF the
republic, join hands, each bringing MS
and her share of knowledge and eX-
perience, and make the laws under
which we must all live and work.
firmly believe that any effort or
argument that tends to separate or
antagonize men and women politically
or to force women from legitimate
womanly work rather retards than
helps the cause of political equality
and 1 am glad to note in DR.. Bates in
terview that the Colorado women re-
fused to form "woman's party" but
rather took their places beside the men
as comrades and coworkers in COM
mon cause.
Mrs. Phillip Snowden in New York
recently summed up luC hiofS-
ment in the following words:
"The one great thought l would inn
press upon you is this: The suffrage
question is not merely, nor really,
political question at all, but a great
moral and spiritual movement of the
deepest significance. We ask for the
vote. but we mean much more than
that. The vote is the symbol and is
important only as it stands for cer-
tain great fundamental things-com-
radeship of men and women, equality
of opportunity, equality of service, de-
velopment of the individual both in
home and civic life, the same moral
standard for men and women, and an
equal heritage of health, strength.
beauty intelligence and opportunity
for every child born into the world"
Study of the vital questions of gov-
ernment. companionship and corespon-
sibility in the enactment of these prin-
ciples into law and cooperation in the
enforcement and administration OF
them will make women better COM
rades to their husbands, brothers, sons
and friends and more interesting and
valuable members of society as well
as making them truer to their respon-
sibilities and aspirations as women.
HOLLYWOOD, Cal. VASSAR.
-