The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-14

ara sc tenderly and wAtohfuIly protected when
we see the law placing the legal working day
TOT women and children at ten hours, and that
TOT men at eight or nine hours; when the
wages or women are from one-half to two
thirds those OF men, for work equal In guam
tlty and quality; when as in many OF .nr
States the father has the legal power to sepa-
rate the minor children from the mother and
70 dispose OF them as he wishes; when under
the statute OF distribution, the husband Is en-
titled to all Of the wifes personal property at
her death. and the wife Is entitled to one
haK OF the husbands persc nal property under
certain conditions, and one-third under other
conditions: when the wife OF husband who
dies Interstate has life interest in only one
third of his real estate while the husband of
the lntestate wife has a life interest in all of
hers when women are taxed equally with
men, without representation; when, as in
,present municipal affairs. find the men who
are employed to administer these affairs lined
up almost solidly in opposition to conceded
reform movement in the interests OF good gov
eminent with some Of the citys officials in the
lead.
statistics dc not bear out your correspondent
in the implied statement that moral conditions
are at present properly regulated On the
statute books of our own city is unenforced
law. providing fine and Imprisonment fer per-
sons keeping immoral places (who, however
are not c ne whit worse than those who sustain
them)--a law deliberately and confessedy un-
enforced. law that has not yet found Its
way to the light In spite Of the efforts of the
ministers. the temperance women, and indi-
vidual local reformers. n
AS for sanitary surroundings and home pro-
lection. the woman is certainly held
largely responsible than the man, and COM
mon sense would it seems, suggest that in
building the ideal home structure she should
not be denied the of tool sharp m
cutting out imperfections and necessary in
carving out desired condition MS As the ballot
will prove when applied,
Your correspondent fears that equal suffrage
will prove of discord IN families on
account OF differences OF opinion. That is a
misconception CT each persons right to his own
opinion. 1t Is indeed cholerc individual
who quarrels with every who honestly dis
agrees with him. People may be widely diver
gent on some points and yet maintain an ex-
cellent feeling and keep their tempers. As
for the members Of family surely 1t should
constitute an additional bend that their
mon interests have been extended and that
eompanionship has thereby been broadened.
Apart from pure speculation (Which is the
strong tower OF the uninformed) to practically
suffrage States, Colorado, Washing
ton. Wyoming. California, etc, where the men
are just as chivalrous, the women just az wo-
manly and the home life just as lovely as in
/ any other States Of the Union.
The equal suffragist does not, like your cor
respondent. calls down maedictions on the
head of her opposers. Equal suffrage put into
practice is the Golden Rule cxemplifed It's
entire trend is humanitarian. 1t is applied
Christianity" AS working principle 1t results.
not in the changing Of the womanly instincts,
and capable human being; as a helper to other
women who need her: conserver cf the
moral atmosphere surrounding her children.
and as an tnspfrer and co-operator with man
/ in the hitherto debarred work that makes for
] a higher type of humanity. G. II. s.