St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-01-15
WOULD THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE
BENEFIT WOMEN.

Miss Jane Adams has very interesting
letter in the Ladies' Home Journal for Janu-
airy, giving her reasons why the right of
suffrage should be accorded to women.
Miss Adams seems imbued with the be-
lief that much-needed legislation in certain
directions can only be secured through the
votes Of women. This conclusion is reached
by attributing to women an understanding
Of conditions opposed to the comfort and Sc
curity Of the home, the protection and edu-
cation of children and the rights of women,
that will not be removed by men because
the remedies are weighed in the commercial
sense of expenditures and receipts or be-
cause Of the inaptitude Of men in recogniz-
ing the economic and hygienic Importance
of certain protective and alternative meas
ures; and further, that the influence Of wo-
men does not extend to the convictions Of
men in it's effects upon the ballot.
1t is true that the efforts of women have
been for better government, better schools,
and a higher moral standard, and that they
have played an important part in progress
sive movements. They have shown ability
in commercial and professional occupations,
and could no doubt, after due political par
ticipation and study, fill elective offices with
credit. But in her desire to correct existing
evils, Miss Adams emotions have blinded
her as to the possible influence upon women
Of political power and authority. She has
considered women merely as she finds them
in the home. She pictures the suffragist in
the likeness of the good mother, who sees
the needs Of her children and Of her sex,
and who recognizes the futility of battling
for reformations without the aid of legisla-
ton. Had such women, and such women
only, the right of ballot, united and undis-
turbed by political situations or local inter-
ests, much might be accomplished by them
in the direction desired. Miss Adams fails
to note that the liberality of thought that
made it possible for women to occupy posi-
tons in the commercial world was inductive
of competition with men in the same en-
ployment at reduced wages. We do not
mention this in disparagement-c conditions
have compelled it-but simply to show that
money has power to influence women as it
does men, and that self-interest plays an i'm
portant part in the consideration Of all
questions.
Some men enter politics with view to
becoming public benefactors, but few are
governed alone by that impulse. Most of
them become politicians for what there is in
it, either in public honors and notoriety or
in money. Would women any more than
men present an armored front to the temp
tations that will beset them Would they
dwell in harmonious and united opinions or
would they be disturbed by factional quarrels
and disputes ? Would they establish party
Of their own or would they trade their inf1u-
ence for alliance with other parties !? In
either case, could they resist the temptation
of the spoils Of the victor-the patronage
and perquisites Of public Office Would the
employees of corporations vote themselves
out of job for the sake of principle ?
1t seems safe to conclude that there would