The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-17

HE question OF female suffrage,
like the ghost of Banquo, will
not down. To some. it is only
shade from the neither world
while, to others, 1t is as one Of the
whitc-robcd celestial beings who ap-
peared to Peter, James and John on the
mountain top.
Turning from the supernatural to the
real It is now living. practical ques-
ton. 1t has passed beyond the days Of
ridicule, and VIC hear no more Of its
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
Speaking abstraetly. 1t is difficult to
see how the capacity to vote, and to vote
wisely, depends on the mere matter of
sex, or that that fact alone decides for
or against female suffrage Yet not
always docs abstract right determine the
question of wisdom or availability A
scheme may seem logically correct and
perfect. and yet upon trial prove a fail
ure. John Locke drafted a form Of
government for one OF the Southern
colonies, which, on the face OF it, ap-
peared TO be wise and Just, yet 1t failed
Of success The consent OF the gov
crncd, affirmed in the Declaration Of In
dependence, is not always Of immediate
application By the late amendments to
the national constitution, the emancipated
slaves were made citizens and given the
right OF suffrage. yet 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-governmcnt.
They have not the respect for legal
proceedings. the self-restraint which is
necessary to make safe and efficient gov
ernmcnt Of and by the people So it is
q 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 four
States, and thoughtful men are watch
ing those States to see its effects upon
their political life
Objections arc raised, not flippantly
but seriously, and to be seriously con-
sidcred. One grows out Of the fact that,
in many States. the franchise has been
granted to women in respect only TO
educational matters. We naturally think
that nothing would be OF more vital
importance to them than that which
affects their children, and that they
would everywhere take part in educa-
tional questions and show their inter
est by participation in the ballot. yet it
is true that they have not responded as
fully as was expected. Thus, while there
were about 100000 women authorized TO
vote in Massachusetts, on school qucs-
tons. the number actually voting fell
from I8.483 in 1906 TO 1860 in 1907.
In one hundred and eighty-nine towns.
where 3,6oS women were registered. not
a single woman voted. In Cleveland,
Ohio, the number of registered voters
diminished from 6.6SI in 1904 TO 3,I7o
III 1897. They seem to have thought the
partial ballot not worthy of their at
tcntion, and the argument is that If
educational interests do not appeal to
them sufficiently to bring out their at.
tendance at the polls. they will also fail
If the full franchise IS granted.
Many Of our English sisters arc strlv-
ing to secure the ballot. but the means
which, according TO the papers. they
take would not be tolerated here, and.
to say the least. are offensive. We want
TO fighting Amazons"; ; no gathering of
women to break up political meeting.