The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-14
LET THEM VOTE.

Some clean-cut and forceful argu-
ments for the cause of woman's SUI
frage were presented recently by Ed
tor Napier in his Newton Kansan-Re-
publican as follows:
The women of Kansas will be grant
ed equal suffrage by the men of Kan
sas at the election this fall. There Is
really not much grounds left to DOUBT
this statement. A great many men are
outspoken in their support of the SUI
frage movement. A great many more
are secretly hoping the proposition Will
carry this fall, and intend to vote 10.
il. AS a matter of fact, were 1T clearly
shown that the women of Kansas real
ly want to vote, as q rule, there Woulu
not be 10000 votes registered agalnst
their voting. There can be no question:
as to the equity in the matter. Ine
women have as much right to vote de-
they have to become business women
teach school, write letters as stenog-
raphers, own property or pay taxes
Furthermore, no well informed man is
ready to deny that the average woman
is as well qualified to vote as the aver
age man. Some men who are nonpart-
san on the question of equal Suffrage,
freely contend that women as rule
are actually better qualified to vote
than are men. They are not so suscept-
ible to the influence OF pre1udice Oh
party. They are inclined TO express
real Importance. The argument is useo
that it is the woman's place to keep
the home, and if she performs that
duty as it should be done, she will nave
no time to devote to politics IL Woulu
be as logical to argue that 1t IS
mans duty to pursue his vocation Oh
providing for that home, and therefore,
has no time to fool away with poll
tics As a class women possess hlgnel
ideals of life than do men as class.
Even though giving them the genera
ballot may not work any great process
of publication of politics, certainly tneS
will not make matters one whit worse
The claim is made that to give women
the ballot would increase the expense
of our elections. Perhaps 1t would. II
even increased the cost OF elections u
strike the chains of slavery from race
OF peopIe and make them free Amerl-
can citizens. The argument is also
used that each woman would vote Jus'
as her husband would. There is NJ
foundation for such argument. W.
know a family wherein the HUSBAND ano
wife consulted after the city electioI
instead of before, and found that put
one candidate was supported oy ooti'
Furthermore there are numerous WIZ
ows and unmarried women, property
owners and taxpayers, who nave d
fine intelIects and as full ana COM
plete knowledge as the bachelors ana
Hidowers who are as completely dis
franchised in this great free country
as though they were inhabitants VI
the land of the Hot+entots.
There is a question of fairness anu
equity in the matter. Is it right toi
the men to sit in judgment on TINS
proposition and in their power and olg-
nitv. and merely because of that pow
err. denv suffrage to their sisters? kan
sas men are chivalrous and fair ana
honorable There is no complaint on
the mart of even the most ardent Wo-
men supporters of the question, on the
onnosition of men who have considered
the matter and conscientiously made ui
their minds to oppose equal suffrage
IT is but a small thing for the men
of Kansas to do for the fair women
of the state to tender to them the
RIGHT to vote. The beauty and good
ness and virtue of Kansas women
constitutes the greatest blessing OF
which the state boasts possession. NC
greater tribute to them can be paio
at this time than for Kansas men &c
start a movement that shall leave ne
onnosition to granting them equal SUI
frape this fall The men owe 1t tc
o,1r women, to in truth and in fact,
make them companions in all things
in the home, in society, in learning, ~
business and in politics. To do SO VIII
show strength, not sentiment; many
respect, not capitulatfon.