The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-01
JUDGE MURPHY IS
SUFFRAGE BOOMER
Jurist Comes Out Strongly in
Support of Votes for
Women

Replying to request from Mrs.
Clara B. Arthur. president OF The
Michigan State Suffrage association,
Judge Alfred j. Murphy has sent the
following letter:
Il am glad to indicate some OF the
reasons which will impel me to vote
for the amendment to enfranchise
women.
Let me preface this by saying that
| have no hope that enfranchisement
will accomplish all that its extreme
advocates promise, nor any fear that
II will work the evils its extreme op-
ponents prophesy. Both are equally
irrational, and are refuted by the ex-
perience OF the communities where
fun suffrage has been tried.
Neither the millennium nor disaster
will follow Acknowledgement. But ex-
perience amply demonstrates that a
distinct gain to the community will
follow, In the -bFeadeRed and newly
incentived womanhood, and in the
certain progress that will result ir
the movements affecting education.
public health, public morality and the
varying economic questions that
touch the home, the woman and the
child.
The strongest argument in my
view is the economic one. In this
country, 100000 to 100000 women
and girls are engaged outside thel-
homes in gainful occupations. Each
of these in herself Is an argument for
the ballot. She, an economic unit,
producer and consumer, the equal in
intelligence and, generally speaking
the superior in morals of her brother
L. entitled. as a matter of justice. to
voice in shaping the economic condi-
lions under which she not only lives
and iabors, but of which she Is al
integral part.
"Vitally concerned too is the un
employed woman In the economic life
open to her children and In what is
only OF second importance to her, the
economic welfare of all children. The
women who are so situated as not tc
have to seek employment are vital'y
interested too, In common with all
women, in maintaining conditions
which will make possible to every
woman the attainment OF her highest
desire, home and home life in which
she will be the happy mother OF
healthy, selfreliant children. The
ballot will give to this army of wo-
men, not the indirect and sometimes
impotent influence they now exert
but direct power.
WHO can doubt Its exerc8e for
gooi?
Women now have the full suffrage
in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah. Idaho,
Washington and California. They
have the school suffrage in 80 states.
Abroad they have the full suffrage In
New iceland Australia, Finland and
Norway. They have municipal suf.
frage throughout England, Scotland,
Ireland, in many of the English col
oni9s, and II. Sweden. Iceland and
Denmark.
81 have not been able to find any
thing approaching prof that evil has
resulted, while there is abundant
proof that great good has thereby
been achieved.
THAT women use the ballot when
given 1t is shown by the fact that in
sorle OF the jurisdictions mentioned,
a larger proposition OF women than
men vote. II that is to be test for
Withholding or grating the suffrage,
what shall be said OF our own com.
munity, where, in some elections,
only one-half the vote has been cast,
and In at least one recent election,
only about one-third OF II polled?
"-rhe ballot in the hands of woman,
evth when not fully exercis ed, Is n
power in reserve. which eve-y politl-
cal boss. CRATER and public eXploitef
fears, with which he has to reckon,
and which. If il cannot exterminate
hin, will pull his fargs."