The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-16
wONANI.N WOMAN


Contention for sAe ers-satasss aaeat OF AEneri
can wazaea IS g2t 10 se arasAsa Ss.de and given
It's aussrGs " suy oae rs41 tu, ., mast oe admit
rss * al ss32S TIA. II 2z---Z-s-s ALA address
Oa the negative Ct t4e ssepasssloa Ea's advocates
az feminine Suffrage az .as defensive
Hss GAS pea s,r sAe saa,st;y 81 TIE bone.
tie greatest q Azse-lea- :-ss.ss.:s1s. through
tie manifestation e zsae =; voElaa3y qualities
ey wuraAn Had h.s sermon ee@a delivered In
England or IN soEae - our Northern states
doubtless he would have been laughed Al by mil
liant feminines. who could have advanced thou
sand reasons for their being given the right to
vote. In the South. however. his appeal for
continuation OF the queeny influence Of wo-
man" must strike responsive chord in the fem
mime soul Whatever strides the cause OF wo-
man suffrage may make in ths-country. it IS safe
to say that the women of the South will ta the
last to align themselves with il.
We know Of few. if any Southern women Who
have gone out on the commons to shout for suf
frase before Northern or English advocates came
down to spread the germ. There may be eonsid-
cradle sentiment in favor Of votes for women
In the South and right here in Virginia, but it
vas not formed. we believe, by Southern women,
but by advocates from elsewhere. In fact, the
cause has made such Indifferent progress in this
section of the country that are forced TO tho
belief that the women Of the South, certainly
the great majority of them. do not want the right
OF franchise. What they do want, and should
have, Is a more equitable arrangement of things
political. more legislation favorable to women
and children and right to be heard In matters
affecting their sex their homes, and better civic
conditions
Whatever may be the attitude of lawmakers
In other States, il must he said that the women
of Virginia are always given most respectful
and OF course, lengthy hearing all measures
proposed in the Legislature and in which they
are concerned or Interested. The women of Wiz
ginia. and no else. prevented the adoption
OF an amendment by the last General Assembly
which would have allowed mill and factory own
ers TO work women and children more than ten
hours dsE3 when the law forbids this. The
women made a most vigorous campaign Tor rne
establishment Of a woman's college in Virginia
and but for the fact that the State faced de-
ncit they probably would have gotten appro
priation for that institution They succeeded in
getting the last Legislature to commit itself to
the founding of such college and il is probably
a matter Of but a few wears before the institu
ton is established. These are but two instances
in which the women OF Virginia have directed
legislation just as though they we're members
OF the General Assembly. The general statement
can be made that there is nothing in which wo
men OF Virginia interested and want done in
the Legislature that they cannot get If. they con-
tinue to go about oit in the same gracious and
feminine way in which they have succeeded In
!. the past. There is no need for the feminine bal
lot in Virginia
DR. Hatcher handled his subject IN a serious
and scholarly manner. int pointed out few OF
the fudicrous features OF feminine suffrage. His
sermon call to wtfehood and motherhood.
for woman 10 remain upon her throne as the
queen of the home and thereby be of the greatest
service to mankind and herself While admitting
that there two sides TO the question, and
paying chiyalrong compliment 10 those whe held
views different from his. DIR. Hatcher took what
must be regarded BY thinking Southern women
as the litter phase and presented il in such way
that the cause" in Virginia must indeed be
hardy to withstand his untayorable analysis,
which summed UP, is that the influence OF wo-
man would be inestimably hurt should she be
given the ballot, and that no sound reason for
her enfranchisement has been advanced to WOO
the nobler element Of feminnity from the home
and hearthstone.