The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-10-03
SHOULD WOMEN VOTE
outlook's Reason Why They Should
Not.

sixty different plalks. Among these
the plank for requiring political du-
ties of women awakens as much op-
position as any. The editor OF the
Citizen personally 10 not opposed TO
woman suffrage, though the paper
officially is. The Outlook, Mr.. Roose-
velts own paper, gives the follow
ing list of objections:
1. Suffrage is not a natural right.
Il is not the right, which every
one Possesses, TO have his person
and his property protected. The child
in the cradle has a right to have his
person and his property protected.
The immigrant just landed has
right to have his person and pro-
perty protected. But when, II at
all, the growing child shall vote,
when, IL at all, the newly arrived
immigrant shall vote, is to be deter
mined by the community to which
he belongs. Il is q question TO be
determined by the community solely
bv a consideration OF its effect upon
the public welfare.
2. II is not the duty Of women tn
take part in government. The prime
function of government is to protect
persons and property. Women hay"
hitherto been exempted from the duty
of protecting persons and property.
They have right still to claim that
exemption. The great majority OF
them do claim that exemption. The
fact that the rights of persons and
property have been enormously in
creased by our complex civilization:
that they include, for example. the
right TO education, to sanitary protec-
ton, and the like, does not make !:
the duty of women to assume this
burden from which in the past they
have been exempt.
3. This burden cannot be put upon
part of the women without putting
1t upon all the women. II the vi
cious, the ignorant and the CORRUPT
woman may vote, it will become the
duty OF the virtuous, the intelligent,
and the patriotic woman to vote. "
the law gives to all women the right
to vote, it lays on all women the
responsibility of voting.
4. Voting is only a part, and a
small part, of government. II the
duty of voting is laid upon women, the
duty will also be laid upon them
of taking an activo part in the pre-
llminaries necessary to voting, and
in the consequences which result from
voting. 1t will lay upon them the
duty of acquainting themselves with
political discussions, Of sharing in
the political campaigns, and it will
also lay upon them the duty of see
ing that the laws which they help
to enact are enforced upon thos,
who refuse to obey the laws.
5. At the present time the major
ity of women are either opposed TO
assuming or reluctant to assume this
additional responsibility. To impose
it upon them against their will Is
undemocratic and unjust. II is also
inexpedient. To add to tho thous-
ands of indifferent voters, who are
already a menace to cur Government,
many thousands more Indifferent
voters is neither just to them nor
to the community.
6. II the majority Of the women
wish to assume this burden and take
a share in tho government. it will
be wise to enable them TO do SO,
because 1t will be much better for
the commonwealth to have women
taking a part in the government than
to have them disconnected because
they are prevented from taking a part
in the government. The Outlook.
however, does not believe that there
is any State in the Union in which,
II the question were submitted 10
the women, a majority would vote
that they wished to vote. II doubts
whether a majority. even in the w.
man suffrage States would vote that
they wished TO vote II the question
were submitted to them anew. u
they register and vote. 1t is not be-
cause they wish to do so, but be-
cause the duty has been laid upon
them and they cannot escape 1t with
a clear conscience.
z. Women can cxc-S a greater ia
fluenco upon the political life OF the
Nation. they can do more to promote
those civic. social. and non partisan
reforms which are sorely needed n
American life without the
suffrage than with IT, Democratic
government IS aeco ssarily party gov
eminent. II is Of inestimable value
to tho community to have one half
of the community not identified with
any party. and therefore able TO
unite in non-partisan efforts for the
publication and elevation OF politi-
cal ideals In all the parties.
8. We are entirely unable to under