New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-21
A DEADLY ENCOUNTER
Sufragist Grapples with Bull Moose
Spinster-Weapons Burning Words.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: "a Bull Moose Spinster," as she
signs herself, should leave her place In
her home once in a while and get into a
new circle OF women, In order to know
that women are not as bad as men. II
she would read the daily papers and
magazines other than those designed for
the home she would soon learn that near
ly all the crime IN the world is committed
by men, and that only very, very small
percentage OF women are bad. She should
go to church, to women's club meetings
and women's suffrage meetings She
would then discover that her sex, as a
whole, is better than men, and that con-
ditions now exist which woman's interest
In her home would lead her 10 ameliorate.
She blames the painted faces and indie
cent and eccentric clothes" worn by some
women to woman's suffrage. Women do
not vote in Roseville, ~ j., her home"
do they? l have seen some bitter anti
suffragists painted and dressed In the
latest eccentric fashion" In fact. a
certain ladies' journal, the editor Of
which presumes to dictate how women
shall think, also dictates these fashions
and advertises face paint.
She says the majority hope suffrage will
never be thrust upon them. 1t never will
be- Women who have not intelligence
enough TO vote, or who are as bad as the
men, or who cannot leave the home for a
few minutes once a year to vote. will
never be compelled to do so. But neither
have such women, even II In the major
ity nor a majority Of the men, any right
TO prevent women from voice I'm the
government to which they are subject,
any more than women have a right to
prevent men from voting. This right to
voice in ones government is a God
given, natural right Even II women
had less intelligence than men, that
would not take away her rights. Me-
chanIcs and laborers are not as intelli-
gent as judges, but that does not dis
franchise them. Some men are not eligl-
BILE for jury duty OF military duty. Does
that disfranchise them?
II woman place is in the home" and
once q year TO vote, she surely has no
right to leave II by the hour every week
to go to church or to market and GER
tainly II the head of the family is a
worthless drunkard or is dead the woman
has no right to leave the home all day
every day to earn a living for herself
and children. Yet "womans place is in
the home"
Is 1t any worse for women to parade
after dark" in tho brilliantly lighted
Fifth avenue than to walk after dark"
to church In a little, dark country town?
Is II as bad as being packed with men In
tho street, watching a parade Of any kind,
or riding In crowded cars?
Is II any worse for a woman TO cast
her ballot once year than to WELD
her influence toward right voting? And
is Il any worse to work for the cause OF
justice 10 women than TO beg of men for
TO a church fair?
The vicious spirit "A Bull Moose Spin
ster" manifests toward her public spirit
ed sisters, who are giving time, work
and money TO attain their own natural
rights and those OF her sex who have the
good OF their country at heart, is about
the most "unwomanly' and really man
nish" thing / know. She is not asked TO
do anything but keep her place in the
home" She has no right to take her
time to write for the newspapers. She
should DO establishing principles to fit
81 uls for heaven" rs she says, instead.
Why does she not say something about
the anti suffragettes" who are leaving
their place In the home" and ''restlessly
about"2 / suppose this is not
"degeneraung'' DO you suppose the
Lord admires such" as they and you,
Miss Bull Moose Spinster7
ONE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE
HOME
New York. Nov 10, 1912