The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-16

polls against opposition IL necessary.
to carry out. by force the effect OF
his ballot. Law consists of a series
OF thou-shalt-nots. but government
does Z, g. not result until an armed ,,a m maj
Force converts law into government.
In civilized countries there are three
methods OF converting law into gov
ernment--fne or compensation, I'm
prisonment and death. For all Of
these. physical force Is necessary. To
create an electorate unable to use
physical force, is not, 1s the. sunra-
gists seem 10 think, merely doubling
ing out the undermining. which Is
force, from every form of government
the world has yet known.
Besides the two essential qualifica-
tons Of voter there are many other
sirable, but not essential. The United
States was a great and powerful re-
public before such thing as an ecu
cational qualification FOR voters exist,
ed. The possession of education and
intelligence on the part OF women does
not enable them to force their way
to the polls and execute the laws mus
made. The spectacle OF one-hali tne
electorate unable to execute single
law it made or even to deposit its
ballots without Nthe assistance OK the
other half, is a proposition SO fan
tastic that It is difficult to attack IT
seriously. The trouble would begin
deposit their ballots. A dozen rntiians
at single polling place could prevent
a hundred women from deposltins
single ballot. There can be no doubt
that this means would be used Dy
the rougher elements. and that the
polls would become scenes OF preor-
dained disorder and riot. In ADDITION
to this rowdyism, respectable women
not respectable. a thing appalling to
to modest women. The respectable
women might Invoke the law, but, they
could not enforce 1t. They would be
dependent upon that moie.y o. ,,en
'rhe constabulary has always proved
totally Inadequate to maintain order
at the polls when there was deter
mined effort at disorder: and there
Is in the American nation hxed NOS.
tility to the employment of troops at
polling places. 1t is a fact probably
unknown to the suftrag!sts. that ever
administration which has ever passed
a force bill. or even made serious
endeavor TO do SO, has always lost the
House OF Representatives at the next
election. This has caused an axiom
to be made that an electorate wHlcn
cannot protect itself Is not worth pro-
tecting. and the country is better off
without 1t than with 1t. TINS prln
ciple has worked unerringly since the
foundation of the republic, and Is in
itself the natural protection OF the
ballot.
Dangerous Power.
Surprising the ballots OF women.
however, TO have been deposited by
the indulgence OF men. women VIII
men upon subjects of which no woman
has ever had, or ever can have, any
practical experience. True. men now
legfslate for women. But there IS no
which women have q monopoly, and in
which no man has any experience. II
has often been pointed out that women
could not, with justice, ask 10 regis
late upon matters OF war ana psaco.
as no woman con do military duty. but
this point may be extended mucn iar-
the. No woman can have any prac-
teal knowledge. of shipping and nav,-
CATION, the work OF trainmen on rait-
subjects OF the highest Importance
Their legislation, therefore, would not
probably be intelligent. and the laws
they devised for the benent OF sailors:
trainmen, miners. etc. might be highly
Objectionable to the very persons they
sought to benefit. If obedIente should
be refused TO these laws, who is 20
enforce them? The menu Is 1t likely
they viii? And II the. effort, should
You'd occur, The entire execution of
the law would be in the hands OF man
backed up oy an irresponsible electo,
rate which could not lift hnger 10
apprehend or punish criminal.
Great questions would arise con-
corning national defense and internal
protection. The votes of women, not
one OF whom would be called upon 10
share the hardsh!ps Of a military life.
might decree that a hundred thou
sand soldiers would be sufficient in
case where the men from WHOM
these soldiers RS, w sSn 400 p We're needed
By providing only half that number,
those men might be sent TO their DE.
struction Would they go? AND II
they refused, who is to make mem go
ing women voice and an utterly
IRRESPONSIBLE ballot on this subject?
In municipal affairs, the men mlsht
decide that a city needed LOT US pro-
, . Women. not one OF whom would be
called upon to risk her life as po-
liceman risks his, might conclude that
900 men would be enough, and those
With which 1t would require l.6oo men
~ deal: and awful disasters might re-
suit. But suppose the police refuse 70
meet these odds Again anE,o WI 9, Is ITO to
naI,fase Of men are unable to do Mill
tarS and constabulary duty. To add
this irresp Shals femInins sies
.1nrate is to reduce the responsible
electorate to the mlnimuna: ..,,,o -,
Mrs Clarence Mackey, leading suf-
fragist, she advances with much
sneh as women now POSSESS without
responsibility, Is aye VERY i,,t bad 1ha thing.
tharity q the ballot w in place Of in
nA,hiiity If influence without respon-
ssty is must aq BE- tSou Mith
times more dangerous. 1t is, in fact,
he most aangsroua .aing Gn ne ear a.
ways equal to Aristotle.
1 The second basic principle against
M mot Claim maintenance from another
voter-woull deprive married ed, women T ,
S h, ban and in all questions CON
nerning women. wives and mothers
,nnst be considered first. From the
Beginning Of reprsssn,iata5ve ebs govern
',,,on5 a rn,lireS a vote he gives up all