The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-01


of ths day, was much surprised when shc
told me she hdgeted with. modification WHEEL
the members Of the Legislature We're forced
to sit quietly and patiently in their seats. ana
listen to the long drawn speeches of this
suifrasists they camored for equat rights,
and lowered the standard Of true womanhooa
until the flag $50 to speak, was trailing In
the dust.
Oh! women, when will we learn TO let we'll
enough alone?
The facs that women is already represented
In the head OF the family to which she be-
longs and the demoralizing effect of active par
ticipation in politics upon the purity and oeii-
cacy of womanhocd, is enough to make any
true woman fight against 1t.
Her adaptation to the pleasures and duties
of home life. and her equally manifest IN
ability to view political question in any othel
than PARTISAN light large proper ton OF
women would always vote under influence, ana
that OF the worst kind, and the great majority
of the best women, who would be unwilling,
even under stringent compusion. to vote, while
the worst classes would be marched up to the
polls, nasse, to cast their vote for those
demagogues who had purchased them are all
20 many -. oE.s telsoas against womans sur
frage.
as to holding office. inclined to the
sufficient capacity for It. would desire to I'M
dertake its responsibility. SO far as the strife
has yet progressed. the only women that have
nominated themselves for public offices have
manifested no other qualification than I'M
limited powers of sUecch. without point or argu-
ment. and with absolute ignorance In regards
evtahiy come before them should they ever
gain their vote. There unquestionahiy many
women much better qualified to mold positions
of honor and trust than are some men the
country has seen at to place there, but they
generally not OF the class that aspire to
it. My own opinion Of II Is that the ardent
advocates of womans suffrage would so oVerdo
the matter to provoke a reaction against II,
and render their success impossible
II all were to be registered, the
whole number Of voters would no, be ninth
f.,f v,ata decision
in favor of woman's suffrage finally prevail
with Its results of candidacy and office holding
the country Will be sadly changed NhiIe there
will re many women who will neither vote
or seek office, many thousands Of the more
gfaav conceited kind, pleased with the notoriety
which political life would afford. would aban-
( don all home duties and pleasures TO discuss
political questions In public. BY the means
Of little hattery. OF some single feature which
they might admire, they might be carried IN
support of any candidate notwithstanding ms
hor disqualihcat' ION. craftsmanship would
run high, often the home and family circle would
be the of chickering's and rough political
disputes which would in time become intolerahle
then it could not be otherwise than that
divorces should increase rapidly. Instead of a
better condition Of our state laws 1t Is plain
to a thoughtful person that evils or many
kinds should spring from s"ch q source. even to
the extent of murder. The leaders OF both
sexes and the corruption Of unprincipled poll
ticians. determined to carry their points at all
hazards would soon become tntoierable. and
a
since the days of the French Reign of Terror
The influence Of this condition of things ON our
children and the youth Of the state would be
unfortun nate in the extreme. The respect and
reverence for which IL has been
our pride to have instii!ed lrto the hearts Of
boys and young men, would aia out, biightea
by the degrading scenes they coaId moi fail
to witness and In its place would come con-
temptous feeling for the sex who had strayed
so far from wonanly purity and modesty. II
/ would be In vain for Christian mother to
seek to nculcate in the mind Of her son
feeling of reverence for and courtesy towards
the sex, OF whose good qualities she may be a
shining light, for every hand her example
ard instruction will be overpowered by the
boldness of the Office seekers. The perlls to
society and gebd morals have only been touched
that would grow out Of womans suffrage.
Statistics show that the States that have
already tried 1t are no better financially. and
certainly worse morally. than they be-
fore. SO why should Virginia want the
perence
knowing some OF the gentlemen that are II,
the LEGISLATURE we'll DOUBT not that they
would he mortified to wife or sister or
theirs take her place amon~ I've s''fra~S+s'
VIRGINIA DARE.