The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-10-28
A WOman's Plea For
A Woman's Right.

ooA. "A lol &c pOIllOu O1 ILLS dT IlCIC
is from the pen of Mrs. S. L. w.
Clark, of Burton, Wash, who writes:
&c. X. who advises against voting
for the amendment to article 6 is af-
flicted with nearsightedness. Where
has he lived? What has he read,
that he calls the great woman move
ment "almost epidemic?" By the
way, why not sign his name if he is
not ashamed of his views? If he
read the daily news he would see
that grandmothers, yea. even great
grandmothers, who have raised fine,
large families are using their right
full vacation from lullaby singing"
Eby taking proper interest in the
larger home called the world. Eliza
beth Cady Stanton and her descend
ants have large families, as have
other equal rights leaders who
might be mentioned. But a person
who says the world amuses'' itself
with social and labor questions is
certainly insane To call the earn
est labors Of reformers species of
amusement, taken up for the sake
of excitement is too absurd to be
treated seriously. It is of the same
cloth as the assertion of a member
of the British Parliament, who said,
s'To give women the vote would
abolish sex distinction" Now, as,
mans laws have not been response
! BILE for sex distinctions, they cannot
abolish them. Tradition and super
.stition are responsible for many
hurtful, artificial sex distinctions
and the sooner they disappear the
better for the race. But as to the
fundamental duties in which the
sexes differ, we can safely leave.
those with nature ,.-..ss,.
'The strongest instinct Of human
/ ity is maternity. We're all others
4 in ruins, this would still survive.
i Until time ends women will be
mothers gladly, joyously. But to-
day, under the dreadful conditions
caused by our undemocratic econo-
mic conditions and the fearful con-
/ sequences of the double standard of
morals, intelligent women see the
necessity Of having a hand in the
making of laws under which they
must bear and raise children. 1t is
4 the mothers and not alone the wage
! earners who need the ballot so as to
influence legislation directly. 1t is
!. the call of the children which wo-
men have heard and are answering
the right to childhood which a mans
world has closed to thousands Of
children, all for the sake of Mann
mon.
| Every man who loves home, to
whom the name Mother is sacred,
should vote for this amendment for
| it is high time that woman's wisdom
| be joined to mans for the uplift of
/ our country. It takes two minutes
to vote, but a vote counts, and this
| reform is to establish human rights.
! Not as women only but as human in
dividuals do they need the ballot.
/ yea. claim it as their right. Not
until both men and women together
/ fulfill their duties as citizens will
| this be government Of the people,
| for the people and by the people.
tsIn the name of God, mother, and
country vote for the amendment to
article six of the constitution of the
| State of Washington G.. K. says
| that if women are given the ballot
"She will be degraded to the level
of man. She will be treated rather
as a man than a woman" Well!
we are asking to be treated like a
man equal political rights, equal
pay for the same quality and guam
h tity Of work, equal property rights,
| (no more) equal guardianship Of
| our children, equal purity in the
husband that he demands in his wife,
in fact we ask to be placed by your
side as your peer, your comrade,
your equal.
The consequences of injustice are
always far-reaching and terrible.
One portion of the human family
has held the other in legal subjection
through centuries uncounted. Now
lit might be well to try to be just
and see what would come Of it. Only
good has come in New Zealand, Aus
tralia, England, Canada. Wyoming.
Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Idaho,
where hnudreds Of eminent men
have testified to- the excellence 81
the results Of enfanchising women.
Florence Atkins.
East Sound, Oct. 25.