The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-01-27

Since it is admittedly the case tina
equal suffrage has safeguarded tn,
home by scientific laws, and sweet
ened and bettered communal condi
tons directly bearing upon the home
this charge must be regarded as spec
ifically leveled at the women in tn,
home. In fact, the more BLACKBOARD
lily critics have not hesitated to de
clare that "the character of the Colo
RADIO woman is steadily .deterioratins
under the influence of the: ballot
1t is, of course, charge that de
fes detailed disproof. To those who
have visited Colorado, admired the
conjunction of taste and care thai
marks the Colorado home, and re-
joiced i'll the intelligence and refine
ment of the States womanhood, the
SANDER is at once apparent
To others the only thing that can be
offered is. fiat denial from every
Colorado man.
Why, in the name of reason
should the mere fact of voting work
deterioration in any woman? 1t does
not take any mother away from her
home duties" to spend ten minutes
going to the polls, casting her vote
and returning to the bosom of her
family, but during those ten minutes
she yields power that is doing more
to protect her home, and all other
homes, than any other possible in
fluence.
Just as all the laws passed by the
women significantly concern the
home and its environment, just so
does participation in public affairs
seem to have given Colorado's women
a deeper. more intelligent and ener-
getic interest in their homes. BY the
legal establishment and recognition
Of woman's citizenship, the intellect
and character and reciprocal estima-
ton of both sexes has been raised.
The possession of the ballot has given
women an interest in general as we'll
as in political affairs, and this has
naturally stimulated the men. In
stead of the old perfunctory chit-chat
of the average domestic circle-the
relation of personal doings and gos-
sip as the base of conjugal CONVEX
sation--there has been an injection
of ideas, the dawning of an intelli-
gent and more intimate companion
ship. The woman, instead of being
shut off from her husbands larger
thoughts and outside interests, now
shares in them; and even when the
partnership is not particularly illum-
NATIVE, it is certainly an improve
ment.
What statistics there are fail to
show that the home broadening has
been attended by "coarsening and de-
terioration" The Colorado birth
rate has increased steadily, and the
school population has gained twenty
five per cent. in five years. The most
careful investigation of court records
proves that there has never been a
divorce where the wife's political
activity was assigned as the cause.
The United States reports show fewer
women in the wage-earning class in
Colorado than there are in any other
State and higher average of wages
for both men and women. The aver
age yearly male earnings in the Uni
ted States are 1913, and the average
yearly female earrings 1913, yet
Colorado shows an average of 1898
for en,$554 for women.
To this connection it is fair to
consider club life. which plays an
part in the feminine activ-
tiles of every town and city in the
land. Under equal suffrage, the wo-
mans club has undergone startling
Instead of being
confined to the old inocuous topics,
the impracticalities of culture" and
near thought" these organizations,
stripped of their inutility, now aim
at specific purposes and achieve use
full ends. The deliberations cover
such subjects as educational prob
lens, local option, joint property,
election reforms, direct legislation,
pure food, domestic science, the prop
er conduct of city. county and state
sociology, and all man
ner of political and industrial re-
forms
In addition to the culture clubs"
that have been given breadth and
purpose. there are womens political
clubs in almost every town in the
State, not for the securement of
Offices, but for intelligent study of