New-York tribune., 1912-04-19
WOMEN FIRST BARBAROUS.
Suffragette Traces Rule to Tribal
Instinct of Preservation.
OTHERS NOT so POSITIVE
children First" a Better Rule,
Miss Milholland Says, Dis
cussing Titanic's Loss.

Reports which came from London yes
| terday of the justification OF the rule OF
women first" by suffrage leaders there
awakened little sympathy among the lead
| ers of the woman's movement In this coui'-
/ try. They were more inclined to regard IL
as g relic OF barbarism.
1T goes back" said Mrs. Harriet Stanton
| glatch. "to absolutely barbarous times. In
those days a tribe that did not protect its
women and children simply disappeared.
The tribes that survived were those who
understood the Importance OF preserving
the child-bearers. But now the situation is
wholly different. and the preservation OF
such custom is extremely Shocking VI
course we don't know what happened on
the Titanic. but ! don't see how any woman
could bring herself to take advantage Oh
this law of the sea- II she had any cnoice
in the matter and leave her husband 10
perish"
But what other rule could be subsu-
tuted?" Mrs. Blatch was asked
IL don't think that in the present stage
of civilization such situations need ever
arise" she replied, "and II women had
something 80 say I'm the conduct OF human
affairs / don't think they would. we are
naturally the preservers of life That is a
characteristic Of the sex all through
nature. Men need us TO protect them from
themselves
Miss Jessie Ashley, president of the Col
legiate Equal Suffrage League. does not
regard the rule Of women first as
privilege enjoyed by her sex
1T is very terrible position to put the
women in" she told tn" reporter. and
don't think most women would choose H.
but the difficulty Is 10 find another rule.
At such a time everything must be done III
accordance with a recognized custom
Nothing can be decided at the moment
am sure that all women who have thought
about il want TO change this custom, ana
women must take the lead in doing IL
Men cannot"
Mrs Pearce Bailey took a similar view
"Of course il is very unfair" she said
"and IL means sacrificing the lives OF vau-
able men to preserve lives which may be
much less valuable. But the question Is
almost impossible Of adjustment. and the
rule OF women first seems TO be the only
way TO prevent violence. When 1t is not
observed we have such terrible scenes as
were enacted on the Bourgosne and the
Ebe
II know one Of the Bourgogne SURVIVORS
and he told me that the scramble for Ire
was terrible Then. too. anything which
preserves chlyalry is 10 be commended.
Like Mrs Batch. Miss Inez Milholland
traced the law OF the sea 10 a prehistoric
age when women represented the life OF
the race Early in human experience 1t
was demonstrated that II in any given
Rroup the women were annihilated the
clan would cease TO exist
Now. Of course. conditions are changed.
Miss Milholland continued In case OF
disaster Ike that OF the Titanic believe II
f. right that the women stand aside along
with the men while the children receive the
greatest chance for life for Il is the chill
dren 20 whom life means most. For them
life has a larger horizon And the only
reason why women should not be allowed
this privilege of heroic death is the need OF
the child for its mother. II Il were not for
this would be glad to zee women join
with the men in the act Of sacrifice
However. II requires great deal more
courage TO leave the ship with all ones
loved ones upon II and TO go forth 10 face
daily life with its heartrending emptiness
than 10 remain upon the deck
AN interesting point in this disaster was
due notably 10 the difference between the
behavior Of the American men and that Of
the Frenchmeu on the Bourgogne. In
America we have more freedom for wo-
man, more emancipation. than In France.
Yet more chivary was shown by the
Americans than by those who deny the
wisdom OF such emancipation
So II We admire the quality Of herosm
and the chivalry displayed 10y the men who
went down with the Titanic and wish TO
inculcate that heroic quality in "A more
widespread fashion. apparently one of the
best ways OF doing " IL To give liberty and
al the big characteristics II involves to the
women Of the nation"
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