The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-19
WOMEN PROTEST
AGAINST BALLOT
Sign Petition Saying Amendment
Is Inexpcdient and
Dangerous.
is FILED WITH COMMITTEE
Sisncrs Ask Men Not to Force
Women to Bear Burdens
OF Male.
is FILED WITH COMMITTEE

Saying in their letter OF transmittal
that they are convinced that only
small percentage OF women in Virginia
desire the ballot the s!gners OF d
petition presented their paper ycstcr-
DAY morning to Chairman Martin VIII
!iams, OF the House Committee on
Privileges and Elections The peti-
tlon is Us follows:
AIR. Chairman and Gentlemen:
In hunding you this profess, we beg
leave TO call your especial attention
TO the signatures. No effort has been
made TO secure numbers. but only q
rev representative names, which in
crude waSc-carners. school teachers
ANA college graduates; women who are
presidents or prominent officers of
social literary. patriotic charitable
church and missionary associations,
day nurseries. kindcrgartens, orphan
asylums and hospitals
Some Of us have worked for our
own support ana that of our families:
some have held public office and know
all the ms and outs OF political life;
some -havo spent years in personal
work among destitute and unfortunate
women of every class, and are thor
oushly acquainted with their condition
and needs.
We Will not take up your time with
arguments IL you wish to know
someth!rg about both sides OF this
question, we refer you to the anti
suffrage pamphlets and leaflets now
in the hands OF the State Librarian.
DcDloro Strife.
We have formed no organization.
Issued no propaganda. made no fight
of any description, for we realize that
strife between women Is an utterly
dep!orabie thing; but our silence does
not mean that we are indifferent to
the question OF female suffrage, far
less that we approve Of 1t. On the
contrary. We are absolutely opposed
TO it. and feel more deeply on the
subject than words can possibly ex-
press
We believe that:
IF the suffrage movement were to
disband to-day and no woman ever
vote. not single great interest would
suNer. None Of woman's wide philnn-
throPles would be harmed; womens
colleges would be unaffected; the pro-
fessionH would continue to give d.
plomas to qualified women; tradesmen
would still employ women; good laws
would not be repealed; literature would
not suffer; homes would BIO no less
secure; woman's civic work would not
cease; nor would there be any more
disposition than there Is to-day to
remove to State where women al
ready have the ballot"
Where better laws are necessary
for women or children, education,
temperance or general morality, we
believe their enactment could be as
sured with one tenth OF the time and
encrgy-nnd none OF the money-em-
ployed In gaining members for the
Equa! Suffrage League.
"Inexpedicnt and DnnEcrous.o
We are, therefore, unable to SEQ
where there is any necessity for this
amendment to the Constitution OF Eir-
GINA. AT the same time We know that
conditions render such an amendment
ineXpedient and dangerous In this
State, conditions which do not exist
in any female suffrage State or coun-
try in the world.
1t has seemed to us that true pa
triotism would not seek to aggravate
this troublous problem.
In conclusion, we will only say that
we are convinced that n body OF In
telligent, capable and conscientious
persons, bound by no party ties, di-
vided by no fractional disputes. and far
above all suspicion OF self interest, Is
OF infinite value to any country or
State.
We ask OF you nothing but the con-
tinuance of our political independence.
We need all our time and strength
and thought for the work which we
alone can do-do not ask us to bear
your burdens as we'll as our own
Believing that in quletness and in
confidence shall be our strength" We
leave our case in your hands.