Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16
EQUAL SUFFRAGE
. SCORED BY WOMEN
we Don't Want to Vote,' De-
clareS Fair Speaker to Men
at City Club Luncheon
REPRESENTATION is AMPLE
Asserts Ballot Privilege Due Only
Those Able to Give Mill
tary Service
REPRESENTATION is AMPLE

1.-TWO of the reasons why we oppose
votes for women" said Miss Minnie
Bronson at the City club luncheon yes
terday, 'are these: First, because of
an instructive dislike of notoriety and
the publicity it entails, and second,
because we believe that equal suffrage
is not to the best interest of the state,
the home or the woman herself.
"We seek neither notoriety nor
financial gain" continued the speaker,
"and the best thing we can hope to
accomplish is escape from the turmoil
which would follow a political career
We do not care to convince women
who desire suffrage, but we do want
to convince the electorate of this
country in whose hands the final de-
cision rests"
Miss Bronson believes that equal
suffrage privileges VIII call women
from duties that are strictly theirs.
Franchise duties involve more than
merely casting a ballot, as Miss Bron
son reminded her listeners, and carry
with them many obligations of eau
cuses and primaries and an active part
in the war of politics.
Political warfare is inimical to the
best service women can render to the
state and her home. The excitement
and agitation incident to political life
cause a bitterness which is averse to
the truest character OF women" she
said.
ARGUES AGAINST VOTING
Taking what she designated as the
four principal arguments of advocates
of woman suffrage Miss Bronson tried
to prove to the members of the City
club the fallacy of these arguments.
She explained that women are not en-
during taxation without representa-
tion and that the protection from fire,
burglars and murder are hers, even
though she does not vote. Miss Bron-
son also showed that women and chill
dren have the benefits of public schools,
public parks, water systems and other
improvements for which the taxes are
expended, so that they actually have
representation although without the
privileges of the ballot.
The inherent right of the ballot as
an argument in favor of allowing it
to women was also disputed by Miss
Bronson, who said that the ballot is a
privilege given by the government for
certain services which must be given
by every man-military service or po-
lice duty especially.
Every man may be called out to do
military duty if he is capable of giving
any service whatever" she said.
when universal peace rests upon us
neither ballots nor bullets will be nee
essary. Meantime both Mr.. Jones and
J. Pierpont Morgan are entitled to. one
ballot each, as each represents one man
behind the gun"
Influential Denver women politicians
have abandoned the claim that women
in politics will purify the ballot They
think that this should not be demand
ed of them"
Miss Bronson quoted from a Denver
woman politician and at considerable
length from various Colorado news |
papers to show that women voters
Ao1 f1,, DIV TO,v,x yeaYsi1l
in the recent prohibition election.
In concluding her argument Miss
Bronson read a long statistical report
concerning the various states where |
women wage earners are given the
franchise. She said that her posi-
tion in connection with the United |
States bureau of labor had enabled her |
to make careful comparisons of these /
facts She believes that neither in /
the matter of regulations for the pro- |
lection of wage earning women, in /
the guardianship of the child, nor in |
the child labor question can the ballot |
serve at all.
Public opinion is the greatest regu-
lator of those things" she said, land /
enlightened public opinion regarding
sanitary science is the greatest regu-
latiVe power"
In introducing the speaker Frank
Finlayson, president of the City club, |
said:
"The question of woman suffrage is
not an issue as yet-but it will be, and
1t is a problem that vitality affects our
constitution and carries with it pos
Bibilities that are tremendous. 1t is
well that the subject be carefully con-
sidered from every standpoint"
At Miss Bronson's special request
the program was announced as mot
ladies' day." and Z the only women
present were two specially invited by
the speaker, Mrs. Edna Foy Nehar a
prominent anti-suffragist of the city,
and Mrs. Shelley TOlhurst.