Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-07-04
WHY THE HOAE-AlAlxEIss
DO NOT WANT TO VOTE.

The Illinois association opposed 70
the extension OF suffrage to wonPnl
is sending out some good reasons
why the "home-making' woman does
not desire to vote. A few OF the
reasons are:
The Independent position OF Ameri-
can women in the home and society
IL the wonder OF Europe. Scarcely
an intelligent foreigner. man or wo-
man. who comes to US, but expresses
this establishment. The burdens
which nature puts upon women ev-
erywhere, they bear in common with
their sex, but under circumstances
Of such freedom, homage and chival-
rous respect as obtain nowhere else
in the world. Their rights, privil-
eyes and immunities as faithful wives
and mothers, although they may not
attain to the perfect ideal, are never
theless beyond what any other body
of women enjoy.
The history Of American legisla-
ton proves that for fifty years or
more men have been busy, often
quite of their own unsolicited good
will, in improving the legal status
of women in matters Of property
rights, inheritance rights and the
custody of their children. And these
prerogatives extend far beyond wo-
mans immediate social and domes-
tic sphere. 1t is the testimony OF
many excellent women workers In
philanthropic enterprises, both pub
Tic and private, that when legal aid
is necessary in carrying out their
plans for the we'll being Of the poor
and unfortunate, II they go to the
legislatures as women, not as poll
ticians working In connection with
any political party, they have no diff
ficulty in gaining their ends; while
as members of opposing parties their
bills would be held up session after
session. thoughtful women who are
engaged in the highest enterprises
of womanhood, home making and
soul building, the work of social
an elioration and the care of the poor
and unfortunate, cannot see how they
would be the gamers by possessing
the ballot.
On the other hand they do feel
that the burdens they are bearing,
and of which nature has made it i'm
Ipossible that men should relieve
them, are quite equal to those that
men are bearing for them in the
police regulation Of the outer world,
statecraft, and the material and in
ItelIectual uplift Of the race. There
lis therefore proper equality be-
tween the two us burden bearers
land one which conduces to thai
sympathetic union and cooperation
between them which nature has evil
IDENTIFY intended. To place upon wo-
men, therefore, in addition to their
already honorable and onerous duties
a share OF the duties properly be-
longing to men, they feel would not
Ionly be unjust in itself, but would
lead to conditions Of riva ry ano
pickering which would lower the
moral tone and the sense of harmony
LOT both parties. Science indisputablS
proves, and experience confirms the
truth, that when the wholesome re-
strictions of nature are observed
domestic relations are the source o.
that altruism, which Is the main
spring of all progress. The evolu
ton OF the race requires peace ant
harmony in the home, and everything
which tends towards competition ant
independent and perhaps contendinl
motives, opposes natures benevolen
and progressive designs. Neithe
: men nor women are as yet perfect
: but to thwart natures evident inten
, ton, in leading them along thei
united way, toward a higher plane
certainly will not make them better
I'll
/