The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-29
NOVELIST
PICKS Up WAR CLUB
Peaceable Suffragist Makes
Warm Retort to Famous
Surgeons Rap.

;. Miss Marjorie Benton Cooke, daugh-
ter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Cooke, for.
mer residents Of this city, has just
published her latest novel, entitled
"Dr. David" Miss Cooke is a gradu-
ate of Chicago university; self pro-
claimed nonmilitant suffragist, and Is
about to embark on womans suff-
rage stamping" tour through the
east. This week she forgot the story
OF the dove of peace ard threw down
the gauntlet to DR.. J. Chalmers Da Cos
Ia OF Philadelphia, surgeon and anti
Suffragist. There was reason for her
sudden change of tactics. A news dis
patch from the east was the provoca-
ton, II quoted DR.. La Costa as fol-
lows:
"Woman's supreme conceit and
mans wretched abjectness are respon-
sible for a new class of the human
race-suffragettes. They are pests
that infest society and are race of
neuters, such as exists among the
bees. The members of the third sex
grasp futilely for masculine strength
and power, sacrificing In the attempt
the grace and charms and the elevat-
ing influences of genuine femininity."
Hot Words In Her Retort.
Here is the retort Miss Cooke made
through the medium Of the Chicago
Daily News:
THE doctors argument is based on
a belief fifty years behind the times
belief utterly stupid, silly and ASST
nine-exploded long years ago. 1t is
evident that he knows nothing of the
modern class of woman suffragists.
He does not know that we represent
the highest type of womanhoOd If he
means what he says he would appear
to be what he speaks of as
'neuter' himself. No manly man or
woman OF sense would be capable Of
such utterances.
1T Is really pitiful to believe that
there are still so many peaple in the
world who cling to the primitive no
ton which obtained a half century
ago about suffragists," she lamented.
I'm the early days of the movement
the leaders were women who affected
q manish mode of attire and manners
some of our opposers believe that all
of lis even today. are short haired and
bespectacled. The idea is ridiculous"
"Woman's Work Never Done" False.
1.-THE same folks who think of the
suffragist in that way are the ones
who raise the cry of woman fol. the
home and the sacred duties Of mother
hood Their argument would lead
persons to believe that 1t takes a week
to vote and that woman with the bal
lot would need to sever all domestic
relations. This on it's face is absurd.
Modern scientific housekeeping has
made 1t 80 that a woman does not need
to pass all her time in the home. The
fable of 'woman's work is never done
has become myth. She now has
time for other things. Why not use
some of 1t to better society and have
hand in the government?
"Even the duties of motherhood are
not SO absorbing as they were years
ago. A woman in moderate circum-
stances does not need to give personal
attention to every detail of the house
hold and the care OF her children
There is always time for outside pur.
suits for the modern woman. One OF
the best and highest types OF suffra'
gists ! have ever known is woman
In Boston who is the mother of ten
children. The children are not neg
lected and still the mother finds time
every day to be on hand at the suff
rage headquarters. For an educated
man like DR.. La Costa to make state
ments consigning all suffragists to the
society pest category is almost be-
yond human conception. The appel
lation he accords us in his speech
would seem to me far more fitting for
himself. He certainly cannot call him