Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-03-01
EQUAL SUFFRAGIST MAKES
PLEA FOR FAIR PLAY.


wild animals, but Judging from MS
method OF reasoning respecting the
ballot for women, he can scarcely be
called a great logician. He says he
believes it is right that women
should have the ballot and that
equal suffrage will come, and will
justify itself, but thinks women
should have the ballot only wherever
the majority want it.
Citing the situation in Massa-
chusetts where the vote among wo-
men upon the desirability OF it was
five to three, indorstng 1t, he says:
But not all women voted. Therefore
those not voting should be counted
as voting no." Supposing he were
elected to the presidency by the same
per cent favorlng him, would he still
say that those not voting should be
counted as voting no? Hardly.
If 1t is right that any woman
should have and express preference
(thls is what voting means) as to
the conditions under which she shall
live, the laws when she must obey,
the uses to which taxes levied upon
her property shall be put, then II
IS right she should have the privilege
of voting, whether or not one other
member OF her sex appreciated the
privilege enough to express 1t.
Exactly the same reasons exist
why women should vote as why men
should do so. AS late as during the
girlhood Of my mother, the question
of women having any voice in the
affairs of the church caused such
bitterness and dissension, so shocked
even the pillars Of the church, that
utter destruction of the whole relig-
ious structure was threatened.
Who can be found today who ques-
tions the wisdom of the change,
though at the same time some of the
most pious and devout, both men and
women, lifted their hands in holy
horror because, forsooth, some wo-
man would be wanting to be bishop
next"
The first voters of America OBJ
tanned their enfranchisement by Or
iginal colonial charters, most Of
which included religious qualifica-
tions. At first ,Lere were but few
privileged to rule. After the war Of
the revolution, for the sake OF the
common defense and general welfare,
the religious restrictions we're re-
moved A large number was then
enfranchised Did they have to ask
for It? No.
BY the naturalization act of 1890
another large number of men were
given the ballot, and their (male)
descendants inherited the right. Did
these foreign born men ask for the
ballot? Not that any one knows OF.
1t was not at the request of the
negroes (who were so ignorant that
they did not know what freedom
meant, and had to be chased off the
southern plantations) that they were
given the ballot.
Did the red man ask FOR the bal
lot? No, all he asked for was fire
water"
What is required of a man before
'e may vote?
70 must be 81 years of age.
He must be native born or natural,
lied,
In certain states he must be able
to read
Sounds simple, doesn't It? Almost
as If the average American womar
OF any OF our states or territorle.
could manage II.
Man is not asked whether he want.
to vote. THE question is raised
| whether or not all the women or tn,
majority OF women care to vote.)
He is not asked whether he is
yirtuous man, aud whether he will
always be II given the ballot
The question is asked whethel
mixing In politics may not have
demoraliRng effect on women anC
Nhother lot of these demorallze,
women might not be taken to tn,
polls.
Tie is not asked whether he Is sur,
he will make good use OF his ballot
(Women are.l
Men are not asked to produce sta
ustlcs proving that men have pre-
viously used the ballot to lmprov,
the laws, lrhis they are asking wo
men 10 do
He is not asked whether ne is sur,
be could stlll be a model father
VWomen are asked whether II Nigh
not Interfere with their maternal du
ties l fancy she could as we'll rea,
The political news while rocking IN,