Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-05-18
DR.. POhl
Brilliant
Portland
Loaderin
Battle for
the Ballot

lew CuDllS 10 MS IeellnBS, ana ne
cannot afford to share the dignity with
his women folks. It would deprive
him Of that fine feeling OF authority
over them. Are they not represented
in his person? So long as they are
not enfranchised he is the Sovereign
Man Of the House, and Lord High
Protector Of the females therein, al
though they may consist Of a widowed
mother and half a dozen older sisters
who are working in laundry.
This fanclful proxy representation
is delusion and a snare II a man
represents his wife, who represents
him? Unfortunately, when the one
vote which a good citizen casts for
himself and his wife and his three
daughters and his mother and his
maiden sister is counted, 1t does not
nuIlify the adverse votes Of two males
Of the genus hobo As a matter of
fact women are not represented at
all. We have a government by half
the people and naturally It is like all
work which is done by halves.
It is often argued against the en-
franchisement of women that It will
merely double the vote, for the reason
that men will influence the votes of
their wives They undoubtedly will,
and women may Influence their hus-
bands votes. With at least two votes
in the house 1t is natural that an in
terest in politics should develop and
political topics be discussed, and 1t
Is not extravagant to hope that under
such conditions the double domestic
vote will be cleaner one than the
bachelor vote which may still be in
fluenced by the butcher and baker
and candle-stick maker. II there were
no better reasons for the enfranchise-
ment Of women than that II would
increase the political power OF married
men, that in itself would more than
justify the measure. A married man
who is doing his duty as a husband
and father is a far more important
social parsonage than any bachelor.
male or female, and he ought to have
more political power.
Some opponents to the enfranchlse-
ment of women argue that govern
ments depend on force, and women
cannot fight, therefore, they should
not vote. It will be interesting to
read the petitions for disfranchise-
ment which these gentlemen will
surely present at the dawn Of uniyer-
sal peace, In the meantime women
will continue to serve as nurses in
times Of war, and at a greater risk to
their lives than soldiers themselves
incur, will produce every man who
goes to the front. Insurance compan-
les make a study OF life risks, and
while none of them discriminate
against men on account OF potential
war. many OF them discriminate
against women. even In this sterile
age, on account Of potential mother
hood.
"A woman's place is In her home"
is the slogan OF the anti-suffragists,
and with this we most heartily agree.
She is divinely appointed for the up
building and protection Of the home
and her hand should be strengthened
for the furtherance Of this great work.
As matter Of bitter experience the
despoller Of the home usually comes
through the water faucet, or in the
milk bottle, or with unclean or adul-
terated food, or In some other way
that, as a domestic fixture, she is
powerless to prevent but as an active
participant in the franchise she might
effect by her influence on municipal
and state laws.
The Woman's Sphere is the Home
but predatory man has invaded her
sphere and taking away her washing,
and she has been obliged to follow Il
into the laundries or starve, He has
taken away her spinning land she has
followed II into the factories. He has
taken away her meat and fruit pre-
serylng-and she has followed Il into
tho canneries and packing plants.
One after another the home indus
tries have been taken away until eight
million women have been obliged TO
follow their work into the world. I'm
der the old conditions the labor and
the profit we're equitably shared and
the rule was the home-rule OF the
Under present conditions tho
labor and the profit are not eQuitably
shared and the rule is the factory rule
Of the master. DO these working
women need the BALLOT No man who
kinks, and who 10 imbued with the
lpIrit " Justice will deny their petit
lion,