New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-19
CAUSE PUTS HOME FIRST.
Western Mother Lauded for
Refusing Office.
FAMILY VOCATION ENOUGH
Plenty of Childless Women to
Look After Politics, Says
One New Yorker.

Dear, dear, these suffragists are still
so feminine Can't get away from the
old idea that woman's first duty is to
her home! Not one of the few suffrage
workers who are remaining In the city
during this hot weather could be induced
yesterday to condemn the un-public-spir-
tied attitude of Mrs. A. l.. Hamilton, OF
Pasadena, Cal, who, according to a dis
patch from that town. declined TO run for
the Assembly on the plea that she had
five small children who needed her care.
Il think Mrs. Hamilton is perfectly
right" declared Mrs. A. F. Townsend.
treasurer Of the Womans Political Union.
"Of course, her first duty is to her chill
dren. The idea OF expecting a woman
with five children TO wash. curl, teach,
scold. comfort when they cry, and so on,
10 assume the duties OF an Assembly
woman in addition!
You say she could leave her children
to a nurse or governess? Not IL she's a
true mother-as suffragists are"
But can a woman logically refuse TO
share the burdens OF citizenship when
she shares the privilege of yoting?"
oh, officeholding is one of the burdens
some man will always be willing TO carry
for her However, in refusing office TO
devote herself to her professionals taxi
ing care OF five children isn't a profess
sion l don't know what is-Mrs. Hamil-
ton Is following the example OF vari-
Gus men. It's not at all uncommon to
hear OF a man lawyer or banker refus-
ing office or retiring from office because
II interferes or would interfere with the
practise Of his profession.
Personally" ended Mrs. Townsend.
I'm always glad when a woman does
what Mrs. Hamilton, Of California, has
just done. because every new instance
furnishes one more answer To two stock
arguments Of the anti-sufraG!sts, that
Suffrage will take woman out of the
home and When women vote they'll be
grabbing for Office Both Of those state
ments are grOundless, as any one but an
anti would know"
Mrs Hamilton did Just what any good
IlOkiltI dIN bDOb SUM aStoA NObIN w.
said Mrs. Mary Ware bennett. CORE
spending secretary Of the National
Woman Suffrage Association.
Being a mother is such an awfully
specialized occupation. It's quite enough
for any one woman. ndon't believe the
California Assembly needs Mrs. Hamil-
ton as much as her children do. and |
believe she's quite right In thinking that
they are her job"
Miss Elinor Byrns lawyer, who is
acting as the Nationals press represen-
tative during Miss Caroline Re!lly's vaca-
ton, said she did wish Mrs. Hamilton
hadn't been quite so specific in naming
her reasons.
why couldn't she simply state, as a
man would, that business interests would
prevent her running for ONCE? What
she did say about not neglecting her
home for anything on earth and so forth
will Just give the public another handle
for making jokes about us, complained
Miss Byrns.
But Mrs. bennett didn't agree she
said It was UP to the suffragists 70 teach
the public that motherhood was digni
fed profession.
"Hurrah for Mrs. Hamilton" exclaimed
Mrs A. c. Hughston. chairman Of public
demonstration for the Woman Suffrage
party. She's quite right in thinking
that having five children 10 mother
should excuse her from holding office"
But Mrs. Hamilton says that a
womans interest in politics should be
merely passive until her children have
grown up Wouldn't that policy deprive
the country Of womans voice during her
most vital years."
Dear me, no! A woman's children are
generally out OF the way by the time
she's forty-fve. and then she's just arriv-
ing at the period OF real mental vigor.
Besides. every woman hasn't five chill
dren like Mrs. Hamilton. There are
enough chIldless ones TO carry the bur
dens Of politics-not to speak OF the
men,"