Graham guardian., 1912-03-01
Given by Mrs. Inez H. Lee,
Of Thatcher, for Equal
Suffrage Rights

The following article by Mrs. Inez
H. Lee, of Thatcher, member Of
the Equal Suffrage League Central
Committee, was published in the
Douglas Dispatch:
Only the remembrance of the OBJ
servation of one of our prominent Gra-
ham county men makes me willing to
try to arrange some Of my views on
this very important subject for publi-
cation.
He said: my experience has been
that whenever the legislature has con-
sidered the question of equal rights for
women, the cause has been forwarded
not by the women of Arizona, but by
those from far distant States" the in
ference being that, therefore, the Ari-
zona women do not want the ballot.
So shall avail myself of this opportun-
ity to say that for certainty, know
of one Arizona woman who does want
to vote.
Because, those who obey the law
should have something to say in the
making.
Because, those who pay taxes to sup
port the government should be repre-
sented in the government.
Because, those who have charge of
the home and children should have the
power to protect them and lack of in
terest was not the reason she was not
in Phoenix at those meetings where her
presence might have helped, but there
was comfort in the thought that able
champions came from distance to help
US in the cause.
So, / claim if there was not another
woman in the State who wished to ex-
ercise the rights of an American citi-
zen, if | am up to the mental and moral
standard of Arizona voters, | should
have that privilege.
All the objections to the enfrapchise-
ment of women comes in one of three
classes: The incapacity Of women, the
women themselves.
Women have equal rights in Aus
tralia, New Zealand, Norway, Finland,
Berne, Portugal, Iceland, Isle of Man,
Tasmania, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado
and California, and in every. instance
the women are vindicated and the OBJ
jections proven groundless.
There is ample proof that there is no
necessity Of choice between the home
and the ballot; both can be fully cared
for, and if we must choose between
justice and gallantry, we will take the
former, though in my mind that would
not be required either, as very small
per cent of Arizona's s sons are Doors.
We might have led California in this
just and progressive movement but as
we did not, the next best thing is to
follow her good example and give the
women of Arizona square deal. 1t
might give an added zest if some of
your 200 citizens who wanted to recall
Mr.. Connolly from the censtitutiora al
convention would favor US with senle of
their strong arguments through ycAF
columns; undoubtedly replies would be
forthcoming. ! extend my heartiest
commendation and congratulations to
you on your fulfilling the real and most
important duty of the press, namely,
the creating of proper sentiment.
There is no nobler or higher purpose,
for palpably when the sentiment is
right everything else gets right.
Here are twelve good reasons why
chs women of every State want to vote:
Being tweHty-one years old, we OBJ
ject to being classed with minors.
Born in America and loyal to tssr in
stitutions, we protest against being
made perpetual aliens.
Costing the treasures nothing, we
protest against acknowledging the male
pauper as our political superi0rs.
Being obedient to law, we protest
against the statute which classes us
with the convict and makes the par
doned criminal our political superior.
Being sane, we object to being classed
with the lunatic.
Possessed of an average amount of
intelligence, we protest against legal
classification with the idiot.
We taxpayers claim the right to rep
resentation.
We married women want to own our
own clothes:
We marrfed bread Wipners want to
earn our own earnings, 49, ~
We mothers want an equal part1ars
ship in our children.
We educated women want the power
to offset the illiterate of our State.
Women who object to being thus
classed, and men who object to thus
their mothers, sisters, wives
and daughters are urged to join the
suffragists and help to obtain higher