The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-03
PR.SS HAS REVERSED
STbND ON SUFFRAGE
James Schermerhorn Points Out
Conversion of Newspapers to
Votes For Women.

Speaking on Equal suffrage and
the press" before the Equal Suffrage
club. Friday afternoon. James scher-
merhorn sand that II the press is the
vast shadow of the public mind" the
public mind has right-about-fac on
The question Of giving woman equal
political rights with man.
He recalled how as a reporter he
mas detailed 10 attend the little meet
lngs OF the Womsn's Independent Vo-
tiers association in Prismatic hall
years ago. Then the women who
wanted the same electoral privileges
as the men enjoyed were known In
Newspaper Offices through sneers and
arlcatures-mannish sfrong-minded.
angular hOmophoblsts. strangers TO
personal graces and unacquainted
with the latest millinery aud fashion
plates.
OF course, they were not anything
like this at all. but a group OF earn
est. intelligent, far-seeing women. who
kept the faith and brought In the
present era OF popularity and pres
t!Ss for the equal suffrage movement.
Nevertheless. Il was considered a dis
ciplinary process. sort OF y chasten-
ing for the reporter who had fallen
into some kind Of deFelietieB, to be
assigned TO the meetings OF the equal
rights women 20 years ago.
Today the newspaper gibe>at woman's
political aspirations is quite rarity,
ami outspoken opposition practically
unknown. On the contrary, the sui.
fraglst cause gets liberal and syn
Larhetic attention in the public
prints-One OF the very latest converts
TO the movement being the distin-
guished editorialisi OF the Outlook. the
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt Whether
bis tardy recognition OF womaRs
right 20 the ballot was related 10 the
amazing revival OF interest In the
ihlrd-ferm candidacy. was a matter
Tor the sufragists themselves 10 think
out
IL was quite in order for Dir. Roose-
welt gho has denounced family OF
less than four children as willfui
sterility." 20 come out for the en-
izrged influence OF women so that
they may do something toward bring
ing IN such political conditions as
yill make IL possible for a mother 10
some hope Of larger protection and so
cial Justice for them than the preset
man made order provides.
Mr Roosevelt will rejoice especially
II the good, wise and brave mother
gets The ballot II only good. wise
and brave fathers had il now there
would boi be so much necessity for
the braBdiEhing OF The big stick The
e1-pTesident thinks the equal suffrage
cause IL discredited by the disorderly
antics ia public of some OF its cham
pions. yet IL not ayerse 10 force him.
self 9hen men and nations are de-
priyed 81 their rights as the women
~ England have been.
Indicative Of the trend Of sentiment
toHard equal suffrage was the re-
weed opinion Of President Taft when
visiting the Pacific coast. In Wash
ingron not 50 ysry long ago, he tolc
a convention OF EuIragists he was
not IN sympathy with their cause. but
when h. Nas In California recently he
did a. the Californians do-declared
fCr the ballot FOR women.
Sl-sz=H%tAeFa Sela there were
---1 PRINCIPAL reasons underlying the
CHANGED attitude OF press and public
Cn this G-eEfiOn One II the ienacity
Of ruTrose. skill and good sense
shozn bv women in presenting their
arse backef BY the brilliant achieve
ren-s % he sex in al fields Of en-
teavgr- the other is the spirit Of
-gsre sireneEs which is seeking ~
rally the rnre'sFb and gB;rammeiled
OF al PARTIES and OF both sexes 10 the
sfza-.sr task Of civic and social bet
~av----