The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-09-19
SHALL WOMEN VOTf2

form" backwards.
1. Suffrage is not a natural right.
II is not like the right, which every
one possesses, 20 have his person and
Ihis property protected. The child ia
the cradle has a right to have his
person and his property protected.
The immigrant Just landed has a
right to have his person and his pro-
rerty protected. But when, IL at
all. the growing child shall vote.
when, II at all, the newly arrived
immigrant shall vote. is to be deter
mined by the community TO which
he belongs. II is question 10 be
determined by the community solely
by a consideration of it's effect upon
the public welfare.
2. IL is not the duty Of women u
take part In government. The prime
function OF government is TO protect
persons and property. Women have
hitherto been exempted from the duty
of protecting person and property.
They have a right still to claim that
exemption. Tho great majority OF them
do claim that exemption. The fact
that the rights OF persons and pro-
perty have been enormously increas-
ed by our complex civilization; that
they include, for example, the right
to education. TO sanitary protection,
and the like. does not make it the
duty Of women TO assume this bur-
den from which in the past they have
been exempt.
3. This burden cannot be Put upon
part OF the women without putting
IL upon all the women. II the vi
clous. the ignorant and the corrupt
| women may vote, II will become the
cuty OF the virtuous, the intelligent,
and the patriotic women to vote. II
the law gives to all women the right
to vote. II lays on all women the
responsibility OF voting.
4. Voting is only a part, and
small part. OF government. II the
duty OF voting is laid upon women,
the duty will also be laid upon them
Of taking an active part In the pre-
liminaries necessary to voting, and
In the consequences which result
from voting. II will lay upon them the
duty OF acquainting themselves with
political issues, of taking part in the
political discussions, Of sharing IA
the political discussions. Of sharing IN
the political campaigns; and II will
also lay upon them the duty Of sec
ing that the laws which they help
to enact are enforced upon those
who refuse to obey the laws.
o. At the present time the major
ity OF women are either opposed 20
assuming or reluctant to assume this
additional responsibility. To impose
II upon them against their will Is
undemocratic and unjust. IL is also
inexpedient. To add to the thousands
of Indifferent voters, who are al
ready a menace to our Government.
many thousands more of indifferent
voters is neither Just to them nor
70 the community.
g. II the majority OF the women
wish to assume this burden and take
n share in the government, IL will
be wise TO enable them to do so,
because 1t will be much better for
the commonwealth to have women
taking a part in the government than
to have them disconnected because
they are prevented from taking a part
in the government. The Outlook,
however. does not believe that there
is any State In the Union in which,
II the question were submitted 10
the women. a majority would vote
that they wished to vote. II doubts
whether a majority. even in the wo-
man suffrage States would vote that
they wished to vote II the question
were submitted to them anew. Il
they register and vote, II is not be-
cause they wish to do 80, but because
the duty has been laid upon them
and they cannot escape 1t with
clear conscience.
Z. Women can exert a greater in
fluence upon the political life of the
Nation, they can do more 10 promote
those civic, social. and non-partisan
reforms which are sorely needed in
American community without the
suffrage than with II. Democratic
government is necessarily party gov
eminent. II is OF inestimable value
TO the community to have one half
of the community not identified with
any party. and therefore able 10
unite in non-partisan efforts for the
publication and elevation OF politi-
cal ideals in all the parties.
8. We are entirely unable to under
stand how any one can claim that
women have a right to vote. and
deny that they have a right to vote
on the question whether they wish
10 vote or not.
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