The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-04-05
'CLELLAND'S
OPPOSITION
TO Clothing Women With
Elective Franchise
Set Out In His Speech Before
Convention
In Which lie PrOClaimS His
Views On Subject
And Takes Frequent RapS Al
The UnWOmanIy Woman
And IndulgGS In Sarcastic
And Humorous Remarks

Hon. Rs5gG McClelland. delegate
rom Knox county TO the constitution
Al convention, has furnished The Ban
ner a copy of his recent address be-
fore the convention in opposition to
woman suffrage. II is as follows:
Mr.. President-It was agreed yes
terday in the opening of this discus
sion that we should concede that ey-
cry man on the floor of this house, and
! suppose every woman in the gallery,
is sincere in this matter AS well as in
all questions which come before the
convention We are sincere and earn.
est, therefore, we are independent,
therefore, with few exceptions, we are
courteous to each other, therefore, we
have come to have high regard for
our opponents, for their sincerity, hon
Hsty aud earnestness; therefore, there
Is nothing left for each one of us but
20 honestly voice his own convictions
and take his own position, according
to his own conscience and constitu-
. ency, regardless OF any lineup he may
be in. Therefore, we should voice
and vote our convictions in the open
and not merely refer the question back
20 the people and then mark our bal
lots where no woman can see whether
we say, woman suffrage, yes" or
woman suffrage, no." We, also, who
are opposed to woman suffrage con
rede the moral superiority OF our moth
ers, wives, daughters and sweethearts,
and that is conceded by us not only
here, but everywhere AS you remem'
her, one of the leading addresses yes
terday had it's foundation in that con
resslon and Its whole argument was OF
that character. This however, Is but u
special application of that wider prin
ciple which some of us will remem
ber DR.. J. G. Holland referred to when
he said, "T'he women are all smarter
than the men," for we men also have
high ideals and ambitions. Yes, the
moral superiority OF the women Is
merely evidence that they are smart
er than men; that means simply that
they are superior morally because they
are smarter Some OF us cannot re
member the time when we did no.
nave sisters to rub II into us by saying
You boys are not expected to know
hn
made sisters and women In order Il
furnish you the brains" Some of us
In our mature philosophic years have
come to believe that Man may hay,
hls will but women will have her way.
"Tbat mans fool
Who thinks by force or skill
To stem the torrent
OF woman's Will
For when SHE Will, and she will,
You may depend ont
And whea4sie won't she won't,
And there's the end ont"
Now, we concede the fact, aud w
men who have been congratulatint
OufBelNcb luttt We fuiV th poitiNo INV
really been feliciating ourselves owe
something that doesn't exist, The fac
is, that the unw0maniy woman Ia nov
demanding her way by force, the wo
manly woman has always had her wa!
by wits, and that Is true In your hom'
and mine II Is true everywhere. |
rs true always, Il III true in politics
Now, we concede that women ar,
not only better than men. but we VIII
doubt the wisdom OF giving woma'
equal suffrage conGcdo also that tn
women are smarter than men and W
are proud OF It, and II is for this rea
son in part that ! speak this mornin
against woman suffrage.
Women are smarter than men an
so better than men; no doubt of 4
But because women are smarter tina
sthe men, they may also be worse tina
'snIe men. This Is a phase OF the que
fioA a manly man does not like I
speak about, and the w, g. 7, u. W.
men will not think about All throug
nature the male gets his way by fore
the female has her way by shrewdnes
The man naturally relies upon h
strength, the woman naturally rollC