The Washington times., 1911-09-27
Propounds Dogma of Mari
tai and Financial Free
dom for Women
RICH AND POOR ALIKE
SHOULD LEARN TRADE
Wife Of General Says Army Wives
Particularly Are in Need
of Profession.

Inderendence, financial. and martial
but not suffrage for women.
This is the feminine belief. differing
ia;ly with President Taft in soma re-
epects, Of one Of Washington's most
gracious society women, Mrs. Clarence
r. Edwards, wife of General Edwards
OF the Bureau Of Insofar Affairs.
Observations upon a trip around the
world. completed Monday by her return
home to Washington, ara the basis OF
Mrs. Edwards belief.
American women are the greatest
and most independent Of the worhi,
saws Mrs. Edwards. But the suffra-
gette movement Is a fad-not woman
lv."
Mrs. Edwards differs from President
Taft in his recent Endorsement Of tho
suffrage movement. She agrees will
the President that marriage is not nee
essary % wnInankind.
Women ought to learn trades: rich
women. poor women. and especially
army women" Mrs. Edwards said, heI
dark eyes swapping as she fingered 4
gauzy chiffon gown nerv1nsly. evidenc'
ing the nervous strain Of a 35.000-mile
journey just finished.
But they don't have to vote. don't
need to vote and, l believe. don't want
to vote" she said. decrying the senti-
ment Of President Taft that women
should be given suffrage as soon as
they desire.
II want the women of the country to
have the full and unqualified right OF
suffrage as soon as they want 1t, "
President Taft is quoted as saying in
the October Woman's World.
Points In Common.
Women politicians are disgusting,
particularly the suftragettes." says Mrs,
Edwards, an intimate friend of the
President, whose close personal friend
and golflng competitor is General Ed
wards.
But Mrs. Edwards accords fully with
Mr.. Taft in his belief, quoted as fol-
lows:
II wish every girl in the world were
so situated that she would not think ii
necessary for her 10 marry unless she
really wanted to-
"The President and I agree on that,
for one thing" said Mrs. Edwards,
laughing heartily.
Women ought to learn vocations, but
not professions" she said. Il have no
Use for women doctors or lawyers; don't
think l ever could trust one, myself.
Women had better be seIf-supporIlg
than to force unhappy marriages upon
themselves and fill the divorcs courts:
Women should get just as big SAL
aries as men, too" SAID the army social
leader. Their work generally is more
thorough, and they are especially fitted
for much work. Good health and an
occupation are the two great things In
life worth while.
Need of Vocation.
ITO marry just for marriages sake is
not desirable or prudent.
Every woman should have some
work, some vocation, If only to KEEP her
out of mischief. l believe the rich
society women taking up the suffra-
gette movement are doing 1t from sheer
ennui. They are simply bored, and want
something to do. Then they tire of the
fad and leave the disagreeable after
math to their deluded sisters
Especially should women of the
army have a vocation" said Mrs. Ed
wards, a member of army social circles
during her entire married. life.
When the husband or fathers of
army women die and the pensions stop.
some l have known to be utterly help
less-in direst poverty.
But no woman should engage in any
work or any endeavor that tends to
make her conscious. She may be
conspicuous in her accomplishments,
but not conspicuous or spectacular in