The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-30

getting that idea into the minds OF
the legislators. Women have done
wonders In securing our splendid
system Of public schools. 80
MANY women have exerted an in
1uence upon public affairs In the
past: Eve, Miriam, Mary, Cleopatra,
Joan of Arc-all through history the
influence Of women is marked. But
we are reaching an era when wo-
mems Influence is stronger than ever
before. proof of It is the number
of people in this audience, and the
interest shown IN this convention. 1t
Is getting most generous notices from
the press. The headlines are almost
as big as those over the murders.
Women are doing all sorts of new
things. The other day | even read
report Of a woman being brought
into court for beating her husband
The chickens. are coming honey .gto
roost! .5r
There are now six states where
women have the right eo vote, apdr
there are going to be more do
not know by what right women are
kept away from the polls. vmp
I'VE have intellect enough, and
some to spare. What we want 1s
more ethics. A sense of justice and
| right Is just as important to THIS
country as intellectual strength. Wo-
men have the instinct of right.4oAs
n candidate, / would as soon trust
my chances to women as toomen,l and
n little sooner. l have never known
an organized body OF women to be
on the wrong side OF o. public ques-
ton, although as individuals women
sometimes get the wrong ipoint 10
view, just as we men are often prone
! TO do. AS regards women's mental
! powers. we men realize and appreL
| ciate them every time we meet the
women.
81 want equal suffrage because II
IL right. ! want It also because Il
would have n great effect on woman's
influence in public affairs and would
help powerfully to get the right thing
done. The very fact that woman has
the right to vote viii be a restraining
and elevating influence.
| "When women vote, families won't
be divided; the husbands and sons
will vote the way the women vote,
because the wives and mothers Will
persuade them to- cast their ballots
the way that will count for the good
OF the community and the homS4
Anyway, both the political par-
ties are pretty far gone, and I don't
believe the women can save them,
even If they get to vote soon.
Women will use their ballots, in
behalf of the welfare of the child
and of the schools; for ethical Gull
ture. and justice In business
"The women have been tower OF
strength to every official in this coun-
try who has tried to do his dnty.
Just take the question of pure food:
could tell you by the hour OF the
support that / have had from women
and women's organizations. l should
despair If thought that the women
did not stand for pure food.
I'VE have in this country problems
which l almost fear to face. Among
Ithem is the great problem of the re-
lation between the wage-earners and
the capitalist; that of the distribution
of the necessities of life; that OF the
congestion in the cities and depOpu-
lation of the country districts. These
and many others Will take all the
wisdom and sympathetic insight OF
men and women together to solve
them. l am glad that men are to
have the help OF women in meeting
these problems. We shah Qhaye an
other French revolution here II we
do not look out and do justice. The
Ohio Messenger for January, 1912.