Evening journal., 1911-11-25
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
BY John S. Hamilton.

It really does appear as If we were
going to have woman suffrage, and
after all it looks as il it we're going to
come so easy as to make you wonder
why we did not have It long ago. II
will be interesting to observe whether
Il will make much difference. The
writer is inclined to think that It
won't be noticeable. No one can argue
reasonably why a woman should not
have the right to vote il she wants it,
| but il is really difficult to understand
why she should want il. The old col
ored nanny when she was asked II
she would not like to be white replied.
white folks are sure very NICE but
would not like to be one of them, they
has so much to answer for.
The writer can understand that If
I the women of this country are given
the franchise and will take an interest
in the government that they might do
great deal Of good, but will they
| take this interest that is so necessary?
That is the question. Free institutions
arc not suffering because too few peo-
pie vote. On the contrary the writer
thinks IL is because too many people
vote. The writer does not believe in
limiting the franchise and he is OPP
posed to all schemes that even squint
towards disfranchisement except for
crime, but he is convinced that more
harm is done by dragging the indiiIer-
ent voters to the polls and voting them
as the party boss and the party work
er wish or pay for, than in almost
any other way. The writer hopes he is
wrong, but he is afraid that there Will
be a large element among the women
and among the best and most efficient
I women at that who will not be induced
10 go to the polls under any condi-
tions. On the other hand the writer
fears that IL will add to the electorate
a large number OF purchasable votes
for the women of the same type as the
men who now sell their votes on cleo
ton day will also be willing for a
consideration to dispose of tho valu-
able privilege which at this time is
so valiantly being striven for.
However, we shall see what we
shall see and as far as the writer is
concerned although be is but recent
convert to the cause, he will gladly
vote to give the women the right of
franchise while he looks for the best
Who knows but the fact that our wo-
men have been deprived of the fran
chise has been the cause Of lots of our
evils that We have never been able 70
account for. II may be that we would
have had no monopolistic trusts and
that we would have had here in VIII
mington a river front long ago. Wo-
men know how to make a home and
keep house better than any man and
after all what is state or city, bu'
a home and a house when all is said
It may be that graft and bad roads
and dirty and in paved streets Will
general sloveliness in management
only needs women in our Legislative
bodies. our city councils, and boards
of health. to clean things up.
There is one thing sure, the time toi
the movement is opportune This Is the
day Of the progressive and there arc
going 10 bo big changes in policies anc
methods Of doing things. The womer
will be coming to their own at period
when they can, if they will, do great
deal of good. There Is certainly IN
calculable possibilities Of good IN th'
fact that the mother OF the comma
elector will be in a position where sh'
will be compelled. I'm measure a.
least. to take an intelligent interest n
our institutions and this Of itself th'
writer thinks is a satisfactory answer
to any and all objections that can be
urged against the granting OF th'
right.