The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-14

am prepared to defend my position
What but towards, pledged in the
platforms of both parties to the inf
tiative and referendum will refuse tc
allow a measure to come before the
people for final settlement A meas
ure backed by the petitions of d large
body Of educated and broad thinking
men and women.
If this had been vote on the final
question, while the cruelty and in
justice, would have remained, the
brutal cowardice would have been
eliminated. But for a body of men
TO stand up and say in action, 1--WE
are not for the rights you represent,
but we are the masters, who hold the
clubs and we intend TO WELD them"
is the very soul OF tyranny. Who but
tyrants and cruel towards will use
them? Their clubs are the votes of
which we are deprived. The souls OF
honest women, who feel the extent
of their wrongs and ask the self
elected for redress are wrung to the
center by such cruelty. We can still
retain some little CLEAN of respect for
those who replied to our request for
reasons, for such brutal refusal, that it
was prejudice simple and deep seated,
against the measure. But for married
rakes whose private lives are public
property to look women in the eyes
and tell them it is for love OF a
mothers memory, love of sisters
whose womanly virtues would be con-
taminated by walking to the polls
once a year and spend half an hour
in depositing votes-love Of wife and
home, which would be equally con-
taminated in the same manner say
it is these reasons given to women,
which nauseate and disgust beyond
measure or expression.
Oh God! How long will it be be-
fore wives, sustained in the holy love
of such husbands. will only extend
their arms and touch on either side
of them the walls OF the prison, mar
row indeed, in which they are held
unknown TO themselves slave like
one In a haren.
oh women, sisters, all of you
whom l have pleaded for, and de-
Tended in evl-y possible way, whether
of high or low, rich or poor, all the
days OF thy life! Throw off the leth-
argy which ties your hands and mine
If you love not this measure for your
| self, be just enough to put no obstruc-
| ton in the way OF those earnest wo-
men who do care so much. 1t will
create no obligations upon. you to cast
ballot against your win.
To the large minority who voted
for the measure our grateful, thank:
are due. There were those of then
who said, if such a measure came
before the people under constitutions
amendment they might vote against
it, but believed it was wicked to pre-
ent it coming before the people foI
final settlement.
The visit to Bismarck was educa-
tional in many ways; Mrs. barrow
and 1 felt we had learned several val
liable lessons. The words. of the great
poet often REQUIRED to us, aOh, man.
man, dressed in a little brief author
ity," only few weeks ago these same
men were lodging hither and thither
meekly booking votes and promising
measures. Now as masters they carry
clubs.
Men and women think deeply. There
are mighty elements working against
each other now. but the most vital,
far reaching question before the
American people today relates to the
settlement of the sex relations. It is
the key note to the very life of the
nation.
1t is because feel so intensely
the wrongs to my sex, that I have
hitherto given no marked public at
tention to this question. Although it
has ever received my moral and fiaan-
cial support. But now am in the
fight for veal or woe to myself. The
almighty powers Of the heavens, truth
and right are for 1t. and until it pre-
walls, which 1t surely viii, my feeble
powers such as they are will. be fully
enlisted. Helen deLendrecie.