New-York tribune., 1911-12-21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ADV BATHURST AND BALFouR'

! 10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir. In The Tribune there has recen'S
appeared a letter from &c. w. =. reia''''s
| TO one woman's poyer in politics, WHICH, y,
these days of the pros and cons IN resai
IN the voting of women, gives 1000 lo'
Thought and conclusions. No one douuts
the intellectual capacity OF many "oiii0''
| which is daily on the increase. but tne I'M
! portant question is, Does their Juosihe"''
| good sense and political acumen keep pace
with that advance? And are we justined III
putting the balance of power into the nanus
! ~ "educatod woman" even II her ignorant
sisters are barred by restrictive Legislation
The case related Dy Mr.. Smalley WI" Po'"'
the moral Of this inquiry.
! Lady Bathurst is a person or unooup'eu
/ ability, learning and profound interest III
public affairs, placed in position OF slea'
responsibility toward the public and her
partv by inheritance of the ownership OF
nousnaner whose utterances carry great
weight. At a moment when concord III the
| Conservative ranks was Of vital Importance
LADY Bathurst threw the whole influence Vi
"The Morning Post against the ConserN-
atiye leader Mr. Balfour who was tneh
struegIing against internal dissension ana
I -
outvard attack And for what reason :
Simplv because. in the opinion OF Lazy
Bathurst, Mr.. Balfour did not proceed with
tario reform at the rate OF speed she
thought requisite.
fixed idea often becomes raise iued'
At this epoch, when both continents are Ill
a process of political evolution woman TO
matter what she may become after SeNeid di
generations of transmitted commercial eS-
perience. is not equal TO grasplns queS'ions
of fiscal reform nor is she able to apprecl-
ate the tremendous consequences WHICH may
be the result Of unprecedented ana HlsdP-
pretended changes in our political anu ecu
nouic world The intuition so pfouoi!
bruitod as woman's infallble guide is likeiy
IN no a compound of sentiment, impulslVe-
noee Inadequate knowledge and improperly
dilated emotion. Her mentality Is otten
the wax that receives the impression anu u
"a her habit to mistake an instantaneous
impression for a formed conviction ohe re-
CARDS a prejudice as a sacred treasure anu
shuns the beacon light OF reason WHICH,
though a small and feeble flame, Is the only
light we have. il too often happens that
the first thing woman does on acquiring
rover is 10 abuse II. NO argument '"''
aItar or reason temper her hastily fWmed
conclusions.
This line Of thought and action on the
mart of Lady Bathurst has compelled inc
retirement from public life of leader VINO
had borne the burden and strain OF long
campaign. and who feels that he no longer
has the vitality to cope with prejudice ana
instrumentation from q pitiless enemy IN
his own ranks In this case. can one teel
that the intrusion Of a woman's personality
and power in the political arena has been
such a wonderful success and such help
to the Conservative party that II is an eS-
ample to be exploited and emulated? Should
If not he a lesson for contemplation? Has
Lady Bathurst aided the cause OF women
Has she not shown that even the best
equipped of her scx Is still too much the
slave Of passion and prejudice 10 be a sate
political guide: NJ = NJ
New York. Dec. IS. 1911.