Connecticut western news., 1912-03-14
Letters From the People
Mr. Charles A. Harris Letter Answered

W.T. SnATISS ~. rtSrTlS Gett6T answered To the Editor of The News:
 Let me state my candid opinion of woman suffrage" 1 think it is most vital to the women who desire it and that they would use ir for the best in- terests of the nation.
 How eau MT. Charles A Harris say, "This Is a deiusiOn ?' How can any one pass judgment ill this off, hand manner upon so prOtehtous question
 MT. Harris says II would not de- tract from wOman's worth in many things. but politics is not her best card" This sweeping assertion can carry no great weight until politics for women has been thoroughly tried out, and 1t stamps MT. Harris entire letter as one of those careless, hurried expressions of sentiment which is based upon Impulse rather than upon serious consideration
 Her love and interest are needed ill the hOme." How tiresome and anti quated We thought that argument had long ago been relegaTed to the past. To be sure her love and interest are needed iu the home. Every suffragist believes that with all her heart and soul; but they are needed outside the home, too. MT, Harris says he would not detract from wOman's worth;" but he
  going statement; for he implies that her intelligence is limited to the perform ance of Just one thing all her life long. She must be chained to her own little kennel and make a prison place of 1t. She must not allow her interest to ex- tend beyond its four walls. But the woman of today is capable of more than just that, and her unbOunded love and devotion include her national home as we'll as her personal home. And how about the 5000 900 women in the United ! States who must leave home daily to | earn their own bread? and how about | those who have never had mate to provide for and protect them? and how | about those who have lost the mates | they have had. and those others whose | mates are worthless parasites, and those whose children are grown and have | established homes of their own, and, again, those who have never been | blessed with any children at all? And | there are husbands who differ from MT. Harris on this subject and who urge their 'helpmeets" to broader interests outside the home, knowing that they may be trusted to assume new responsi- billties vii h 1ut neglecting the old.
 No, the Creator never did intend that women should do mems hard labor; and our men, themselves, will see that they never do. Casting a vote involves men, tai exertion. not physical. Women are not required to pl)W, nor will they ever be sent to war or put on police duty. That idea does not intimidate-we have confidence ill the eternal fitness of things.
 Man was intended to be the pro- wider and protector, and this is as 1t should be-" Unfortunately. there are millions of women who have no such 'provider" nor protector. Must they give up the strife? Mo- they must get their own provision and protection. Must they, then, be denied voice in the legislation which alone can regulate the conditions under which they strug- gle?
 To be sure, "a good man is better for the influence and help of a good, sensi- Ole, earnest wife" But, does the fact that she wants to help the nation with her good, sensible, earnest vote preclude her from being good. sensible, earnest 'helpmeet?"
 We have heardp from babyhood of nations conquering and wiping each other off the face of the earth, long be- fore Equal Suffrage was discovered; so we won't take Mr. Harris Russia Fin land remarks too much to heart Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were be- headed, but as result of the mistakes of their predecessors.
 "The smartest of men are those who nave had the influence and help of good, true mother" Certainly Abra- ( nam Lincoln, who was one of the great est men the United States, and perhaps ,he world, has ever produced. said: "All that am or ever expect to be, I owe to my sainted mother" But, Abraham Lincoln also said II go for all sharing 5he privileges of government who assist in bearing its burdens, 6y TO meams ex- ,indimg, zVOmen." F. T. NESTELL.
 Canaan, March g, 1912.