The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-02
WOMEN DON'T
NEED FRANCHISE
EMMA GOLDMAN.
II They Insist, However, American
sufrigists Must Adopt Militant
Methods, Says Noted Anarchist.
EMMA GOLDMAN.

III tue WOfutu Vi AutIiCd Whit
equal suffrage they will have to go
after II by militant methods. the
same as the British women have
DONE" was Emma Goldman's advice
10 the suffragists. as the noted anarch-
list commented on the defeat OF the
suffragists In Lansing, Tuesday, TO
The Times, during a chat In the
"rathskellar" OF the Randolph hotel,
I'm which hosiery Miss Goldman
makes her headquarters, while in De-
troit, because OF old-time friendship
for ''mein host" and his family.
Being an anarchist, and. therefore,
absolutely opposed 10 government of
any sort, | cannot say that | am In
favor OF woman suffrage as II applies
TO the right to vote" went on Miss
Goldman. II can't see what women
will gain by the ballot. | believe In
equal rights for women, but cannot
see how the mere legal right to vote
Is going to make society ut large rec
ognize womans absolute equality with
man. l have an infinite faith I'm my
own sex and believe that women can
accomplish anything they make up
their minds TO attain. But, back OF
any woman's effort, the same as with
any effort In this world, must be de.
termination. integrity and knowledge.
Ignorance lie the greatest foe the
better element OF society has to fight.
When the question OF co-education
was brought up some 40 or so years
ago the supporters OF IL were reviled.
defiled, held up to the same scornsand
ridicule that falls to the lot of any
man or woman interested In a great
reform. But co-education won out,
and who Is there today to revile IL?
There Is no reason why the same sue
cess should not attend woman's de-
mand to be recognized as mans equal
IL the same qualities OF integrity and
character back up the fight. In Brit
ain the women who make up the body
OF the militant suffragists are we'll
educated, refined women, who are not
only wholly conversant with the ques-
ton of votes for women but are well.
grounded In political economy. In the
matter or solid knowledge they are
far ahead OF their American sisters.
Here. the women who really have
knowledge to back UP their limited In
formation about the ballot are proper
tionately small in number.
When in Colorado recently | made
a special study of what the franchise
to women had really accomplished in
that state, and my conclusions were
that II had not improved woman's
economic condition one whit. Instead
OF asking for the right to vote, wo-
men of America should bend their
efforts to creating a state OF society
wherein men and women should be
allowed to work out their own individ-
ual development untrammelled by pet.
ty conventions, absurd laws and a
corrupt political body.
II maintain that woman has achiev'
ed more for the advancement of her
sex, her children and her status with.
out the ballot in the past 25 or 30
years than man has accomplished with
the right to vote. In many states In
the union she is still regarded in the
eyes Of the government as merely
mans chattel. with no property rights,
no right to her children, no legal
status whatever. She can change
these barbarous conditions as well
without the ballot as with IL II she
goes at II with the courage and de.
forefathers when they shook this coun.
try free from Englands yoke. But, II
the women who are now fighting for
the ballot really want to win. repeat,
that no gentle exercise Of social
graces, coquetting with legislators
and dining of senators will get 1t for
them. They must follow the militant
British, or, better, still, join the an.
archists."
Miss Goldman's appearance bellies
her much-advertised red" platform
utterances. A short. stocky woman.
her finely shaped head Is crowned
with soft, notwithstanding, light hair
that has golden glints in II and a pair
OF steady blue eyes yelled in black
lashes look keenly out from behind
heavy nose glasses. Her speech, ex-
cept for an occasional German accent,
Is that OF the woman OF culture. A
native or Russia, Miss Goldman was
educated in Germany and has lived I'm
America for % years. She has trav-
eled extensively and is familiar with
classic and modern literature, has
shake hand" acquaintance with
most OF the great personages Of the
world, whom she has met in one way
and another during her public life
as an orator In the cause of anarchy.
She will speak in Staebler's hall,
Madison-ave. and Beaubien-st., Thurs
day evening on THE danger in the
growing power of the church. Fri.
day evening, In Friedman's hall, on
Hastings-st, she will speak in German
on Wedekin's great sex drama,
Springs Awakening" and will give
two addresses in Friedman's hall on
Sunday.