The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-11-02

Chinese Women Vote, Why MOI
The Women Of This State?
PERTINENT QUERY FOR VOTERS

sas Ask in Vain for the Right Of Suf-
frage, Which the Men of China and
Other Places Have Granted Their
Sisters?-Why You Should Vote For
the Suffrage Amendment to the Con.
stitution.
On March 30 the national parlia-
nent of the new Chinese republic in
session at Marking granted the fran
chise to women on the same terms
as to men. That is, they must be 20
years OF age, hold some property, be
able to read and write On this same
historic day an able and gifted woman
and political leader OF women, whose
name has been variously given, but
! generally as Yik Yug Ying. was elected
to a place in the parliament. Subse-
| quently it was reported that four
women are now elected and sitting
In the same body.
The significance of this revolution
airy step in the oldest society in the
world cannot be overestimated. It
means two things: First. that the new
! government is embarkinE upon a new
and dangerous career, one beset with
/ difficulties and perplexities, that it
L feels the need OF a united and loyal
nation behind It. a nation whose whole
1 Intelligence is awake and alert to
what is going on. Second, that the
/ women of China have made them
1 aelves felt as a social and political
l power upon which the government is
anxious to rely, which it wishes to
have In its support, and breads to
have in opposition These two things
are self-evident IN the awakening OF
China
similar case confronted Finland
some years ago. That northern nation
was threatened with extinction by
1 Russia. Troops were quartered there.
the language was forbidden in the
schools, every means to suppress and
destroy the Finnish nation was
adopted. The struggle for national sx-
iatsnce on the part Of the little peo-
I pie was desperate. In its course the
i women came to the front. They stood
shoulder 70 shoulder with the men.
sharing disaster and danger and sac
F4fica. and never quailing. It was that
deadly struggle which taught the men
Of Finland to value the incaIculahls
reserve Of power in their mothers and
sisters and wives. They acknowl-
j edged their debt Of gratitude in the
hour OF storm and stress by giving
them equal political rights and seat
| ing them IN the Finnish parliament,
where they sit today, the only women
in the world to be so honored. until
n7.1l -Te
to their countrywomen.
| Contrast with this open and sane
and wise policy the course taken by
the British government in refusing
it's women rights for which they have
petitioned more than 20 years. AS a
result, at a time OF grave national
crisis, when, if ever, the country
should have had its best intelligence
free from passion and able to express
itself In parliament with authority
and dignity. the women of the nation
were Overwhelmingly hostile to the
government, some passively. while
some were and are still upon the
verge OF armed rebellion. No COM
monwealth can afford to ignore half
I its citizens, and label them with po-
/ Htical inferiority. It weakens the gov
eminent. 1t makes society unstable. it
breeds ignorance and responsibility,
as well as violence and Iawlessness;
It makes enemies OF those whom q
generous policy would bind to the com.
monweAlth with bonds OF fervent
loyalty.
The women OF China have been until
nov. IN the words OF brilliant Boston
sufffaSiat now campaigning for the
suffrage s~Adment IA Kansas, "op-
pressed. Esut aot suppressed" The
Chinese wife used to be absolutely in
the control Of her husband. she was
bought fron hsr parents and divorced
Gt VIII. But she Was = character not
lightly to be, tr16led with, nevertheless.
and she did not give way TO her fate.
although law and custom were against
her. When her husband abused her.
she went up On top Of the house, OF t.
some other place where she could be
publicly heard, aud cried Out to ali
the passersky the wrongs he inflicted
upea her. This was considered a pub
lie disgrace to the husband. He lost
his face In the community by not
being able to control bis wife better.
and sometimes his social ostracism
was so complete that he committed
suicide from shame
Shall the women q Kansas ask In
vain for the right of franchise which
the men Of China have granted their
ststsrs7 VIII Kansas refuse its women
the Justice which China has granted
VIII Chr1stiaa Kansas BE less wise,
less clear to see its advantage. than
heather CANA has been7 Women IN
Cktna can vote for their Falers and
help fEams the laws tk0T 0oey. Why
not IN Ka1ses3 Vote for the suffrage
a4saazsak 70 t. eonstitEEf0a- Be
Ewe yss sad 4 an4 veAe q e.