The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-19
enc to take issue, the nndez-Appeal made this

enc to take Issue, the LHderAppeuI made this
reply:
1t is our idea OF Justice, and this without re-
gard to whether the right to the exercise OF the
franchise be looked on solely as a privilege or
be regarded as duty. IL II be the duty Of
one-haif Of the adult population OF the State to
vote that one-half is not doing Its duty II one
half the adult population be entitled to the
privilege of voting. privilege which 1t should
enjoy is being denied. When 1t comes to grant,
ing privilege demanded by justice compell-
ing the performance OF a duty, ii is exceedingly
dangerous to allow considerations of expedency
to enter And upon this we stand pat.
That is no reply at all for the simple reason
taat 1t answers something The virginian had not
touched upon and makes other statements which
ray or may not be true. but which are absolute
ly beside the question.
"Justitia" comes more to the point In a COM
munication addressed to The vtroinian, but
shows misconception of the question at issue
and absolute misinformation as to The Vir.
gamian's statement. For instance, she takes ex
certion to the statement that but one woman to
every hundred thousand in Virginia wants the
ballot. Had any one made any such statement
she would have been justified in combating It,
hut so far know, has made the
statement. Certainly, The Vir0iniam did not
The Inder-Appeal stated the hypothetical case Of
one and only one woman asking for the ballot
and said that she should have 1t. We replied
that If but wanted she should not have It for
to give 1t to her would force number OF duties
some of which We enumerated, upon all the
other women in the State, which we for purpose
Of convenience placed at hundred thousand
The entire hypothetical. No statement
was made by The Viroinidn or by the Inder-Ap-
peal as to the number for and against suffrage
"Justitia" falls into several errors among which
Ia the use of the phrase voting tax" There
is no such thing She probably referred to the
poll tax, which The Virginan said would be
forced upon all the women OF the State not want
ing the ballot just to give 1t to the one who did
want it, in the supposition of the Inder-Appedl
that only one wanted 1t. "Justtia" says that 1t
would not be forced upon them because they
would not be compelled to pay it ii they did
not wish to. They would not; but in failing
tt pay 1t they would be neglecting their duty
ard would be refusing to pay their honest debts.
Surely. "Justitia" would not argue that taxa
ton is no hardship merely because those taxed
can default their debt to the State.
The Fir0inidn did not intend to start an ar
gument and when 1t wrote those few lines it
merely meant to scotch the vicious theory that
a small minority of women can force the bal
lot with all its accompanying duties upon the
vast majority, The Tndcr-A ppeaE said that one
woman could impose upon several hundred
thousand The Virgintan showed the falIacy of
this statement, pointing out. what the Inde -Ap-
peal had apparently overlooked. that duties &C
company the privilege of voting and that in
giving privilege to one, the State. under the
conditions laid down by our contemporary would
be imposing duties upon all the rest
The number of women who wish the ballot has
nothing to do with the question. for to make
his case the stronger contemporary said that
IF there is but one" who wishes the ballot it
should be granted it and the argument was
purely an academic one based on that suppose.
ton.
The same truth holds, however, If there be sew
eral hundred several thousand women in vr-
ginia desiring the ballot.
When, however, a majority wishes the privilege
the is reversed Then the minority not
wishing the ballot will have no right to with
hold 1t from the majority which wishes it.
Having made that last statement must we ex-
pect to have anti-suffragist us of
! stating that majority of the women of Virginia
Eow want the ballot? OF course, we make no
such statement, but the charge would be fair
as that of "Justitia" that we said only one wom-
an in Virginia to every hundred thousand wants
the ballot, and sure that II she will read
eta+ full L.
With that OF Brother Harris she will see 1t.
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE. BE REASONABLE.
The members Of the city Democratic commit
tee have not decided upon the form Of the ballot