The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-22
WOMEN CAN BEAR
POLITICAL STRAIN
Mrs. ]. Taylor Ellyson Deprc-
Gates Present Craze for
Equal Suffrage.
GIVES REASONS in LETTER
Commends Senator Featherston's
Stand Against Bill Now in
General Assembly.
GIVES REASONS IN LETTER

Like All questions which have made
history. that of tho enfranchisement Of
women has given birth to dissensions
within rs well as without the ranks.
Woman suffrage stands alone, how
ever, In the long story of ma kinds
STRUGGLE for additional privilege, In
that II harbors within the ranks of
its possible benenctaries faction
which acclaims II and another by
which 1t Is passionately denounced
The literature and pleas of the suf-
fraSists have become such everyday
occurrences in the press that q stutc-
ment OF the position OF the women
who are outspokcn IN their opposition
to woman suffrage has n decided air
of novelty. a letter to Senator RI c.
Fentherston. OF Lynchhurg. from Mrs.
). Taylor Eillyson, wife of Lieutenant
Governor J. Taylor Ellyson, exhibits
the other side pertincntly.
Mrs. EIlyson's Letter.
With tho reluctant consent Of Mrs
| Ellyson, Senator Featheraton permitted
yesterday the publication Of the fol-
/ lowing letter, written TO him under
| date of January Is:
| Hon II. c. Feathcrston:
My Dear Mr.. Feathcrston,-I read in
| one of the newspapers last week, with
| much satisfaction and pleasure, that
YOU were opposed to womans Sufrra yc.
| Tho women of Virginia who arc OPP
posed to II have thus far only you and
! your associates in tho Legislature to
protect them from this unncccss
| evil.
The suffragists say that no ore can
| be forced to vote, and nncd not do so
| unless she so desires. Women are no
| more apt to agree on all matters than
men; therefore. IL you wished 10 ac-
complish anything you must vote.
Your former d!sinterestcd Influence
having been taken away, the heart
burnings bitterness and estrauge-
| monts that would follow would Ger
tainly equal that of men. and ba far
more lasting on the sensitive nature
of women
much younger than the average girl
| narries now, and began life OF ac-
| tivity In church. charitable, civic and
| patriotic work. which has continued
| up TO this time. So 1t cannot be said
that am behind the times
In the large number OF applications
| to the city and state governments
which. in company with other ladies'.
has bacn made N behalf OF worthy en-
terpriscs. we have almost without ex-
| ception received n favorable response.
Can man, although a voter. say the
| same?
| l believe that our success has been
| largely due to the recognition OF the
disinterested and noble work the ladies'
have been so ready to do in behalf OF
| all worthy undertakings
If added to our active participation
in the different movements with which
! we have been identincd there had been
| the additional bHrden OF citizenship
| wc could not have done half az much
as IT has been our privilege to do for
the higher interests of our city and
| State.
| Wants 10 Remain Superior.
| 1 do not want to be the equal OF
| man. do not want to place my re-
| sponsibilities upon him, neither do |
| wish to bear all of my own and ali
Of his besides. / wish 10 remain his
acknowledged superior. I feel that /
am better qualified than most women
TO pass upon the question. | have
been in the thick OF every political
campaign for more than twenty years
| know the strain OF politics on a man
do not believe that women could
bear it and at the same time attend
to her additional duties, which no on.
but herself can perform.
Is an experience of forty years o!
activity in everything but polite:
worth anything in comparison with
this new proposition, fraught with 81
many difficulties and changes whcr
| nave never been tried by us, and which
seems TO me SO useless?
l beg you, Mr.. Fcnthcrston, To use
all of the influence in your power
with your associates in the LeGisla
turc against this measure. While il.
defeat would be disappointment [,
the suffragists, they would really los,
nothing by returning to the peace an,
happiness which has been, and stu is
the heritage of Virginia women; their
taxes viii he no higher, and the none,
which they earn, or have ir;hcfitc'
under our present laws, will be as sa.
as IL they had been allowed TO vote
The non-suffraGist would rise III
and call you blessed; their number j.
far greater than the former, although
not so conspicuous. They are cquall,
endowed with Intelligence. progrcssiT
public spirit, alive to the needs o
humanity. and have II love for tn
rights of both women and men q
; those with whom they differ. an
yours with much respect.
Very sincerely,
MRS. J. TAYLOR EL,LISON