The Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 19??-1912, 1910-07-21
Suffrage Question

surprised to hear the chief argu-
mcnt brought forward that if
women were enfranchised, they
would seek office, children would
be neglected and homes broken up
and that .wOman's place is at home.
Every true sutfragist believes
In the homes as the foundation of
this great nation, and that mother
hood is he most exlted function
that any human being can possess.
But all women are not mothers
and there are many mothers who
are the sole support of their chill
dren and parents, often of their
drunken or invalid husbands. In
New York City alone there are
twenty-five thousand mothers who
are supporting their husbands.
Most of these husbands are drunk
ards, some are invalids, some can't
get work and some don't wish to
get work. Many single women
remain unmarried because of par
ents or brothers and sisters de-
pendent on them. In the older
states, especially in New England,
there are many thousands of wom-
en- who can never marry because
there are not men enough to go
around. There are six millions of
self-supporting women in the Uni
ted States, besides a still greater
army of women, who not only
keep the home, bear and rear chill
dren, but also help make the liv-
ing in store, office or on the farm.
There are many thousands of
women today in South Dakota.
who besides the care of the house
and children, raise all the poultry.
milk the COWS, make butter and
sell enough butter, eggs, poultry
and vegetables to buy their gro
ceries and their own and their
children's clothes, yet many people
think they are supported by their
husbands. Many of these farmers
wives work more hours day, do
much harder work and have less
time to give to home and children
than a woman would have who
filled any county office. Why is
it that no objection is made to
women Eeglecting home and child
rem to make money at the wash
tub, in the store or office or on the
farm. but only if the occupation
carries some honor and a good
salary? She may and often does
do all or most of the work for her
husband who holds a county office,
but if he dies, she can not take his
place as county treasurer, register
of deeds or any other office except
superintendent of schools.
I'm the beginning" we are told
God created man in his own
image; male and female created,
he them and gave them dominion. 81
No man has any right to say what
any women's sphere shall be any
more than women should say that
all men should be farmers or doc
tors. Each woman should be as free
as a man to choose her sphere. First
of all she is a human being and
accountable to God for the best
use of the talents she possesses.
If she is a normal woman and has
the right opportunity she will
choose to be wife and mother.
but IN the name of justice and hu-
manity let every one of the six
millions of self-supporting women
and all other women in the United
States have as good chance to
earn their own living as men have,
even to the holding of any office
for which they are qualified.
The friend mentioned above who
is opposed, is an intelligent man,
reader of the best books and is
honest in his opinion, but he has
not studied this question and is
predjudiced. A few men like DR..
Lyman Abbott and DR.. Buckley
add to predjudice determination
as far as possible to keep women