The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-28
WONIAN,s sUFFRAGE.

Much of the opposition to woman s
suffrage is based on the premise that
II Will seriously interfere with her ac-
| tlF1ties in her normal and gi orious
| sphere of life, that of wifehood and
motherhood. Its enemies call it the
great home-destroyer. Pathetic pic
lures are painted of neglected chill
dren, of unkempt houses and CT I'M
cooked meals, if women are given the
| ballot
But such an argument is exceeding
| ~ far-fetched. In fact, there IS little
if any substance to it. During the
many years that men have enjoyed the
right to vote in this land, it certainly
has not destroyed their usefulness in
their varying 1ields of labor. This is
generally speaking, of course. There
are some men in Kansas and all other
states in the union who devote most
of their time to the pursuit of politics.
They make it their life-work either
for the emoluments that go with Of
fice-holding or for the honoCs con-
nected Herewith, or else fer the mere
pleasure that comes to them in playing
such a fascinating game. But COM
pared with the bulk of the men i'll this
country, the number who devote their
attention exclusively to politics is ex-
ceedingly small. Most men are mere
~ interested in politics to the extent
that the best possible of their number
be chosen to conduct the public affairs.
They keep in touch with the candi-
dates for office and the plans for gov
ernmental betterment and develop
ment through their newspapers and
other publications, or by discussions at
odd times with their friends and neigh
bors. Occasionally during an impor-
tant or spirited campaign they will at
tend in their leisure hours, big po-
litical rally. But politics is seldom If
ever permitted to interfere with their
daily work. and about the only time
they put themselves out in aay way
to participate in politics is when they
take a half hour or less on election
day to go to the polls and cast their
vote.
There is absolutely not the slightest
reason to suppose that the great bulk
of the women would interest them
selves any more extensively in politics
than have the great majority CT the
men. 1t is silly to urge that as soon
as women are given the right 10 vote
they will at once drop the threads of
life they have always held SO dear;
that they will drop forthwith their
duties to their homes and their fani-
lies and scurry, wf1d-eyed and frenzied.
into the active political arena tc ha-
rangue in the market-places with the
men and with each other.
The right to vote that has been en-
loved by the men has not interfered /
with the pursuit of their ordinary avo- |
cations, and at the same time they |
have always kept in sufficiently close |
touch with the active politicians and !
the changing policies of government to |
discharge their civic duties through |
the ballot with discernment and intel
ligence Exactly the same conditions
will prevail with the great majority of /
women if the franchise is given them.
Give women the right to vote, and /
instead of it destroying their homes,
they will be likely to vote so intelH-
gently for candidates and measures
that larger and better safeguards will
be thrown around the social environ
ment. and the homes will loom up
even larger than they now do as the
beacons of safety and security along
life's highway