The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-06

Editor Rlchmond Vhglntou:
.sir.-Shail women vote7 x1hs subject be-
fore ". Involving. ~ It dos. snch Diversity
Of opinions. pro and con. oas that has been
and Of such momensous concssn. should neces-
sarily impress u. one. deserving our most
serious deliberations and sober thought In Its
discussion. should women vots1 We will am
want to voter sS%
Assuming the Affirmative. Ne mail proceed
TO argue In opposition TO the aegatve side. II
sincerely In earnest In their Intentions and
deafous at heart for the attainmSnt of bet
ter condition Of things and for the encourage
ment OF all that II pure In politics. ana will not
collide or allow themselves 70 10 coerced or
swayed BY those who may oppose them. and
will vote intelgently and with discretion. why
should they not be allowed TO do so7 This 10
\ fair question.
selves. intricate and complex. and we become
bewildered In reaching conclusions ~ to the
propriety or freedom to act accurding to ones
or wrong in the case With many it is =
question OF casuistry, and the prapondera nce
of opinions may lean that way. - TO the right
20 to the polls and cast her ballot. and they
become Mortified at the thought To such. let
US say. it II q matter TO be eetermined alto
gether by the motive that actuafes sucn A one,
and we should discard any fetgned formaity
when such important Issue q Involved.
We protest against the innuuation that a lady
ceases 10 be dignified and cornpromises her
self :. aspect because she has Waited the polls
for the purpose OF asserting her right of suf-
may be best suited to regulate moral and tco-
nomc conditions, tudiciously and h0norably.
II the proper control Of such AFFAIRS does not
! concern the welfare Of women. then whom
does It concern? 1t surely does II has come
to that point. when women In self defense. have
been almost forced to disrsgAFd public opin-
ion to forget her household duties and assume
the position the man should occupy because
OF his instability. indifference and indIscretion.
rected their attention TO more Important duties
than that Of the darning OF socks and stock
inss. washing Of dishes and tho rocking of
cradles. and they desire to enter that sphere
| OF life In which they can WELD m Influence
that would be productive Of better and nobler
aehsSements W. adSocass ana smpsa.,. .e' the
right Of woman's suffrase.s undsk III circum-
stances, when moral questions arc at, issue.
! Is. Of the intuitive discornment 81 things per
tanning to the ideal In this life. u
fitted to assert her right OF Sunrase IN de-
termnng the proper status Of conditions that
! undoubtedly cohcern her welfare and success as
well as that of man. and she should DO accord
Mrs. voice L. ' Barber saa.r Of
400" says: The most vital Queation Tor 1919.
and for all coming years. until u IL finally set
millions OF working women need IL The ma
! jorty Of other women need u Justice de-
manas Il y has taken year. Of strenuous SELF
front. where. by brthrishs. II unquestionably
belongs" 80 .4ss. n q.
Further. We are pleased to quote Mrs. O. H.
wo. king girl has no VOTE" said Mfs. Belmont,
she viii get no justice, II such tustice is to
ways been 10. and the verdict rendered by the
Jury in the Triangle" fre In New York. pfovea
that conditions have not changed. 1T = the
wage-earning women. added Mrs. Beiln. ont,
| who will lead the suffrage battle to victory
Such expressions AZ these. coming from wo-
men who have given much sober thought 70
| If woP ~ oT
notice and comment Our opponents contcn.
that II II not becoming and out OF place for
that they have not the time to vote. Yet they
have time to stay at home and gossip about
their neighbors, and visit cheap theatres. All
this nonsense about women meeting with vio-
lence at the polls and such utter disrespect
shown them. is imaginary. II Is on record
OF tho suffrage state. Really. their presence
| should demand the utmost respect. and improve
the air about the polls. prohibiting profanity,
1t In indsputably true that the ballot Of wo-
men would be cast in behalf OF higher stand
courage conditions, productive Of much progress
In the right direction. II they allowed y
vote. Take. for example. the suffrage States
Wyoming Idaho and Colorado. We note with,
pleasure the many improved. saiutary condt-
lions that have been attained by woman sur
frage. II IL safe to assert. that II women could
have their way at the ballot box. there would
he few. II any. put In office. except what could
| stand the test necessary for proper qualinca-
uons 10 I'LL that once. ~
At this present time. when both woman sur
frage and Statewide prohibition have been dis,
cussed It liz appropriate and interesting to note
what the outcome would be, II equal suffrage
/ had succeeded. and the enabling act" which
is now being discussed. should pass. The wo-
(! men, by very large majority. IN the Anal cleo
tion would rally TO the support of such men
In favor of prohibition and 1t would be carried
by tremendous odds. II women are not con-
cerned. and most seriously 30. in the annihflation
of the liquor t-anfc, pray tell us who should
be? il is they who can tell you Of sleepless
nights with hasgard faces and shattered neFyrs
ard sattsFs. clothes. who were pussess6d OF
beauty and strength and with respectable dress.
now at the mercy 81 him. who promised to pro-
tect her. but. alas. has yielded to the temptation
OF the intoxicating drink, to satiAfy seiiish.
morbid nature. which involves the happiness
Of her whom he should love. protect ana fe-
spect. Woman outrage Is a reclamation q
well reformation. For the protection OF
society. therefore. women need the ballot.
Thomas Jefferson. who 20 ardently advocated
the principles Of Democracy II he were Twins
to-day doubt would nrnclal1a-thst -t..Frtr 1re
Democracy means, slfs aansthinx- neither scsaxs
: gor~rnment government. but govern
q ment OF all the people. by all the peonle" Thts
In progressive age and Il IL leading In the
direction or the erfranchiseme-t of women.
gates. few DAVIS ago. great-Srest- grand
earohter IT Thovras Jefferson plead for her
political liberty. Conditions have CHANGED and
the sivns Of the times. IN order to keen mace
with the wave of prosperity point unniptak-
ably to greater and expans've liberty. The
question II, why should those who do not want
to vote try to prevent those who do.
/ II 10 lo~'cas fact that the question whether
a wor,an shnnld vote or not. Is OF morals
4 nd Hnitt yyor hnr