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


n like the ghost of BanQuo, will
~ not down To some. il is only
-1nf- shade iron, the neither world;
while, to others, it is as one of the
wnte-robed celestial beings who ap-
pcared to Peter. James and John on the
mountain top.
Turning from the supernatural to the
real, it is now a living, practical ques-
ton. 1t has passed beyond the days of
ridicule, and we hear no more of its
advocates as short-haired women and
long-haired men. 1t is being considered
BY thoughtful men and women, ami
mated by the desire Of doing that which
shall be for the best interests OF all.
Sp~4king abstractly, it is difficult to
see how the capacity to vote, and to vote
wisely, depends on the mere matter OF
sex, or that that fast alone decides for
or against female stuff "agn. Yet not
always does abstract right dete-n mine the
uu,sS.op OF wisdom or availability A
scheme NAV seem logically correct and
perfect, and yet upon trial prove fail!
ure. John Locke drafted form Of
government for ore of the Southern
colonies. which, on the face of it, ap-
pearcd to be wise and just yet If failed
of s,,scc,s Til. consent OF the gov
erned. affirmed in the Declaration Of In
dependence. is not always OF immediate
application By thc late amendments to
the national constitution. the emancipated
slaves were made citizens and given the
right of suffrage. ye: it has always been
a question whether the latter grant was
then the part of wisdom for them or the
nation. The inhabitants of the Philip
pine Islands were brought under Our
control Full suffrage was not granted
to them, and the matter is still one for
fair discussion whether now or, if not
now, how soon, it should be granted
Indeed, looking at other nations, we find
that in many Of them the people are
not yet capable OF self-government
They have not the respect for legal
proceedings, the sef-restraint which is
necessary to make safe and efficient gov
eminent of and by the people. So it is
a practical question whether the grant
ing to-day OF full female suffrage will
inure to the benefit OF the sex or the
nation. 1t has been granted in fou,
States, and thoughtful men are watch
ing those States to see its effects upor
their political life.
Objections are raised, not fippantly
but seriously, and to be seriously con
sidered One grows out OF the fact that
IN many States, the franchise has beer
granted to women in respect only tC
educational matters. We naturally thinl
that nothing would be of more vita
Importance to them than that which
affects their children, and that thel
would everywhere take part in educa
tional questions and show their inter
est by participation in the ballot; yet i
is true that they have not responded a
fully as was expected. Thus, while ther,
were about 100000 women authorized t
vote in Massachusetts, on school Ques-
tons, the number actually voting fcl
from IS,483 in 1906 to 1000 in 1907
In one hundred and eiqlty-nine towns
where 1908 women were registered, not
single woman voted. In Cleveland
Ohio. the number OF registered voter.
dimin':hcd from 6,6SI in 1904 to 3,I7e
in 1907. They seem TO have thought the
partial ballot rot worthy OF their at
tention, and the argumcrt is that il
educational interests do not appeal tc
them sufficiently to bring out their at
tendance at the polls, they Will also fai
If tire full. franchise is granted.
Nam OF OUR Enqlis; sisters are striv-
ing 10 secure the ballot, but the means
which, according to the papers, they
take wouli not be tolerated here, and
10 say the least, are offensive. We wan
no fighting Amazon3"; no gathering oil
women TO break up a political meeting