The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-03

terest is growing wondorfully. Though
fragc leagues are springinE up oil
| over the State, and constant calls for
information, TOR literature, for help in
organizing new leagues arc reaching
the state headquarters on Broad
Street. The suffrage women are re-
sponding' and the people are rapidly
awakening to better understanding
OF this vital matter. The outlook for
/ rapid success is far beyond expecta-
lions.
A1r. Gravatt is waiting for the ma
Jority of women to demand the suf-
frage. When all women understand
the grent moral and economic Issues
at stake in modern politics. all Will
clamor Tor suffrage Even now more
women, in proportion to their num-
bers have asked for the ballot than
haVe men OF any DISTINGUISHED class
III the history of the world. But why
plead the argument of majority rule?
The accepted principle of majority rule
is that u question should be decided
according to the wish of the majority
OF those who caro- enough about II
to express q wish. The indifferent do
not count. 1t has been demonstrated
that the vast majority OF those who
care about the suffrage question arc
in favor of 1t. Moreover. If 1t is right
suffrage she should not be denied 1t
because others do not want It. That
woman does not want the ballot is
certain proof of her need for it--of
her Ignorance OF public affairs and
of her po> err to help better existing
conditions II the necessary means be
furnished hor. Even the lady who
wrote paragraph for Wednesdays
paper protesting against having suf-
frage responsibilities forced on her.
would probably change her attitude If
she would forget herself and her own
Individual comfort long enough In
diligently to study the question. But
no ono will be compelled to vote
against her will, though in time the
exercise of the ballot should awaken
the public conscience of all women and
teach them to regard the suffrage as
duty. If we could awaken our men
to the same condition 1t would be
we'll: but, like some of our women,
they would rather remain asleep, 1t
is so much easier.
Mir. Gravatt need not worry about
the "enfranohscment of negro wo
men," The question of negro woman
suffrage can be regulated as easily
as that of negro man suffrage. Again,
there are In the South 100000 more
white women than there are negro
men and women together.
captain BAKER says nc VIII vote lot
woman's suffrage when one person
wants it She doesn't want 1t now"
If she knew more about II. perhaps
she would. Evidently she is one of the
fortunate ones who do not need 1t. But
II she Will look out into the economic
world: If she will study conditions In
the social world, she Will want 1t
for the sake of her human sisters and
of tho helpless little children. There
NJ mil NJ
unequal and adverse. often appalling,
conditions-condition that Will never
be substantially bettered till the
workers and the sufferers have n
chance TO speak for themselves at the
polls. Thank God for the good men
among us who make It unnecessary
for some to have the ballot for their
own sakesI But the single women, es-
pecially the workers and the tax
payers, the widows with fatherless
children, the wives who arc supporting
both husbands md children-what OF
them? And how soon or how late
may some now SO we'll cared for he
In the same situation Is that of the
millions of workers who are asking
for tho ballot as the only means OF
economic independence and of the
satisfaction of that cry for freedom
and justice which has echoed through
the human consciousness from the
very beginnings of our boosted civili-
zationl
Doubtless Captain Bakers speech
was meant to be taken humorously. He
knows that, as member OF the Fir-
ginia Legislature representing not one,
but many lie must take the larger
view of affairs, regardless Of personal
desires and preferences. and must act
for what he sincerely believes to be
the best interests OF all.
MIR. Bell Is n hopeful subject for
debate, with mo matrimonial baro-
meter 10 gauge his vote" The mem
bers of the Equal Suffrage League ex-
tend him u cordial invitation to the
headquarters on Broad street. where he
will receive personal appeals" enough
to convince a man more obduratc than
he.
1t is strange that people will bring
against equal suffrage arguments too
trivial to be applied 10 any other
question. If we could convince men
that womans claim 10 suffrage rests
not on being his rival. but OH being his
comrade. ne would escape the network
of fallacies in which he sometimes be-
comes cntanCled.