The Washington herald., 1912-07-28
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

One hears the question very often in
these aspiring days
In their talk Of political equality, do
women give due consideration to the OBJ
legations that go with the ballot. jury
and police duty. military and naval serv-
ice, the protection as well as the making
OF government?
And in the alignment OF men and wo-
men against the extension OF political
equality there is the oft-repeated warn
ing that IL women cannot measure up
to the duties OF exact citizenship they
must, in the name OF equality, cease
their importunate ciamor for the ballot
Military service is the great danger
point, as they view twill women fight
as well as vote?
The question Is answered in a great
many ways, some even saying. yes. II
need be. But there seems just one re-
ply that adequately meets the protest:
AS mothers and as potential mothers.
women are worth vastly moro to a
State than they possibly can be as fight
ers.
We are told that men can bear arms;
that women cannot. And We reply that.
as it runs, that is quito true. Nature
herself settled that question But that
IS not all. No amount Of willingness to
assume woman's supreme service to the
State can make 1t possible for a man
to take her place as mother. And We
are assured-it does not need the telling
that IL woman repudistes her great
est service Of all, the State will soon
totter to its fall.
Nature Settled Question.
It is a pity to quibble over q mere
question OF Nature, and the good Of the
state. Just as woman cannot travel over
exactly the same road upon which man
can go, so it is that he cannot by any
possibility follow in her footsteps.
It is a pity. too, to count relative
values, to ask whose service is most
worth while, that OF the mother or OF
the soldier, but when one hears too many
warnings concerning the duties Of citi-
zenship when there Is a warcloud over
hanging q state one must turn to the
mother duties that must be performed. In
times Of peace or war, II the state IL to
be maintained.
II is not at all a question Of falling
back upon the sentiment Of chivalry; 1t
Is the more practical question of the
worth of her service. In passing. II
seems scarcely fair for q state to depend
upon woman for service which cannot
be dispensed with. and which she alone
can perform, and then assume the atti-
tude that equality In citizenship includes
the bearing OF arms.
BY hand Of Nature. men are better
soldiers than are women; but by hand
of the same Nature women stand alone
in the making Of citizens.
And why not let 1t rest there?
Sometimes one reads such beautiful
tributes to mothers, such wonderful esti-
mates of their exceeding service. that
one believes their work Is Of SURPRISING
Importance, offsetting that Of any other
single service.
But when the claim Of the ballot crseps
into the story the tribute Is clouded all
over with questions-can she fight, will
she serve on jurfes, act as policeman. and
assume all mans onerous duties7 Because
II she cannot she must not hope for all
the rights Of citizenship.
Why not that other Question-will he,
can he, assume her obligations7 For un-
til he can take up her vital tasks, why
must she be expected to follow every
inch of his way.
Her Greatest of All Duties.
II is a very big question. this ques-
ton Of woman's place in the world.
No process OF evolution ever will take
from woman her greatest Of all duties
mother to the human race. II affairs Of
the world were SO ordered that every
woman, by .virture OF being q woman.
were sure Of financial independence by
remaining IN the hume. that would elm
inate one reason for hes exodus from