Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-12-06
Country Women And The Vote.

All over the country labor organizations
are indorsing votes for women. Why ?
Because there are some two or three mil
lion women working in factories and stores
the condition of whose lives depends upon
public regulation of the places in which
they work, but who have no voice in the
matter. Workingmen see the injustice of
this, and see also that the influence in the
State of their whole class is lessened by
the Acknowledgement of some of their
members
Living on farms and in villages through
out the country there are four or five times
as many women who have not left their
homes to earn living because they find
so much to do there that they could not
possibly be spared. These women are en-
gagged in the industry of home-making, as
much productive industry as any carried
on in factory or mill. 1t is the last step in
the long series of transformations which
we call production, the browning result for
which all the others were made. 1t is not
listed in census reports as gainful occu-
patton, because its product is not sold for
money, but upon its success or failure de-
pend the health, virtue and happiness of
the people. The great army of workers
who are carrying on this most important
industry. because they are women, are, like
their sisters of the factory, disfranchised,
They are not counted in the decision of
public questions. If this is just and WISE
it can only be because their work is not
affected by public action. is not helped or
hindered by the result of elections. Is
this the caseS
One hundred and thirty years ago. when
this Government was founded it came
somewhat near being the case, for then
the home was self-centered. almost self
supporting, little community. The raw
materials of food and clothing were pro-
duced in it or obtained by barter from
neighbors. Children were educated at home
or in private schools How is it now, espe-
cially with the housewife of farm and viii
lager
In the matter of food supply she is per-
haps little more independent than the
city housewife, for her vegetables, milk
and eggs are perhaps produced at home or
by neighbors, but for all meat and dry
groceries she must depend upon the vii
lage store. She does not know how these
were prepared or what the packages really
contain. If there are efficient meat inspec-
tors in the State and pure-foOd law well
enforced, she is safe in her purchases; if
not, she may buy injurious food without
knowing it, She is responsible for the
health of her family, but she is not con-
suited as to whether or not it shall be pos
sible to obtain wholesome food. 1t is the
same way with the clothing she buys She
does not know under what conditions the
cloth or the garments were made and has
not been consulted in regulating those
conditions. She is more helpless than the
city woman, for she cannot pick and choose
her market, but must buy what the village
SlOlC II 10 ulbodtiohOu
seeks wider range of choice, she resorts
to the mail-order house and is dependent
upon the postoffice or express company for
supplies. What would not a parcels post
mean to the country housewife If she
lives on farm, she must travel to market
/ to church or her neighbors home over roads
supplied by the public. which may be sc
bad at times as to cut her off from all &C.
cess to the world.
Her children, carefully trained at home
perhaps must attend the district or vii
lage school. No one better than the mothe
knows whether what they receive is help
full or harmful, but if the teaching is in
efficient or the influences bad, she can d.
nothing to better them. If resorts of si
and vice are allowed to run uncontrolled
( in the village, she must see her CROWN
boys exposed to daily temptations, fo
these things cannot be hidden in the cOun
/ try as they are in the city. Clearly if tn
homekeeper of today is to succeed in he
work, is to make her family comfortabl,
and healthy and to bring up her children
to be good citizens, she ought to have SOM
control over the public conditions tina
make this possible. She. if anyone, needs
vote.
Home-making, though the most impor
tant. is not the only work in which womeI
are engaged in the country There ar
many women who own and manage farms
They pay the same taxes and carry on thu
same industry as men farmers, and if !
is helpful to the latter to be counted il
public affairs, it would certainly be to them
But these are not the only women farmers
The city man can live at hotel or board
ing house and carry on his work just a
well if he is single as If he were married
His wife is not his business partner 1t !
not so with the farmer. The farm hOus
is as essential part of the business as tn
fields and barns. Not only the farmer an
his family, but the help must be boarded
the milk must be cared for, butter made
poultry and garden truck raised. All thes
things are generally looked after by tn
women Now, if in business firm onl
one of two partners was allowed to vote
business men would consider it a hartshi
and say that their interests were suffering
Is it not just as much hardship to farm
ers as class that one partner on ever
farm is DISTINGUISHED
While all the homemakers and half tn
farmers are counted out in the manage
ment of public affairs. is it likely that tn
interests Of the country people will receiv
. their full share of consideration from poli'
icaI parties and party leaders, They nevt
, will until we have votes for women.
= SUFFRAGE Is INEVITABLE.
The wisdom Of having women to vot
has passed beyond the stage Of reasonr
on general principles to the stage of pra'
: tical demonstration, and in this respe'
voting is but one aspect Of generally larg
share in public affairs The question is NJ