Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1910-08-18
SUFFRAGE DEPARTMENT

certain fundamental pflnclpleS lhaI
will guide the writer during the pro-
gress of the campaign.
In the first place the ballot is not
necessarily urged because of the
wrongs of women. Not but that
there are unjust laws affecting wo-
men today but all these could be
remedied by men and woman s need
of the ballot would remain as before.
Nor is it conclusive to ask for
votes for women because Of thcir ex-
pected purifying influence on poll
ties. While there is reason to believe
that the presence Of women in pub
lie life would raise the moral stan
dard they still have the tns right
to participate in the government
whether or not their presence I'M
mediately had such an effect Nor
does suffrage depend upon sem
onstfation that women know either
more or less tAan men. Ihs not
a permanent carelilion and mieht be
altered in any decade Nor d aae
fact that women 10 or ao pay
taxes effect the question. &c
is a right that does not 3e9a On
the possession Of property, and
finally whether or net women de-
sire the ballot has no bearing - the
question. The principles that Under
lie suffrage are not affected by the
individual preferences of any indi-
yidual or group.
Greater propositions than these
are involved IN woman's 6ght for
emancipation. In South DaSota,
convicts, feeble minded. tribal lndi-
ans and women are aisfYanchised.
The first three classes are prohibited
from voting because they are be-
lieved to possess defects of ciiarac-
ter that render them unfit Tor
the privileges OF citizenship. The
last class is discriplinaGed against BE-
cause of sex. There is no other rea-
son. To be . woman is to be an ID
ferjor in the eyes Of me law. 70 be
a woman though possessed of all
graces of character and talents Of
intellect not only dei,azs one from
voting but from many other priv
leges Of an 'elector" as well.
The time has come for removing
this disability from our womanhood.
Suffrage is asked not only because
public affairs need the intelligent
interest of women but because
women on their part need to take
an Intelligent interest in pablic
affairs. They need to feel d sense
of civic responsibility that viii never
come without full citizenship.
The greatest safeguard a fle nation
can have is an active and intelligent
citizenship. Whatever raises the
masses raises the standard of the
nation. When ignorant men begin
to study the laws the sway of dis
honest lawmakers is threatened.
To bring home sense OF response
bility to the individual voter is the
goal OF modern reforners. How
much greater the stimulus to the
nation would be il half The popula-
ton were rot discouraged from
helping in governmental affairs.
TO the man who says that women
are inferior and he wishes shem to re-
main so we have nothing to say. He
is doubtless honest and win vote bis
convictions. But to the great bulk
Of men vino consider their wives,
mothers and sisters as their full
equals we address this campaign.
Woman is either inferior or she is
not. If not inferior sne ought not
to be left bearing disability that is
a mark Of inferiority. Men should
give suffrage to women not grudg-
ngly but will;ngly and checyf ully
as an equal is asked to share full
privileges with his equals.
The right Of. woman to the ballot
is not a debatable question. There is
not single argument against woman
suffrage that does not apply in an
equal degree against man suffrage.
This proposition this department is
prepared to maintain and Will main
tain in the campaign on behalf of the
amendment this fall. TIE American
republic rests on the broad principle
that the people can be trusted and that