Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-03-20
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Question VIII be Submitted TO The
Voters Of Mich. at Spring Election
FATHER BuMCHOT or DETROIT
Expresses His Views In an Emphatic Manner
DO Not Forget Amendment April 7.

TIC lOllOWlHB view Oh the w oman
Suffrage question credited to Father
Blanchot, of Detroit and we take the
liberty of giving the same to our
readers, feeling that the expressions
are simply the result of sane reason
ing and voice to a great extent the
opinion of the majority of the voters
of Gratiot county:
No longer a slave and the vile in
strument of pleasure, no longer
mere household chattel, woman to-
day is recognized as mans fellow
worker and helpmate, and credited
with public spirit and intelligence.
By working out manifold new ca
reers for herself woman has now be-
come powerful factor in the worlds
progress and enlightenment She has
shown herself true to her ancient APP
titude for doing well that which lies
nearest to her hand and dearest to her
heart. Stepping outside the narrow
boundaries of the home, she feels her
self called upon to play larger role
abroad as a reformer and conserver
of the social forces. This tendency
towards larger life is but following
out of woman's material solcitude for
the well being of the worlds children
as well as her own.
| believe that the freeing of wo-
man from the narrow confines Of
home and the bringing into her con-
seriousness Of the social claim is a
distinct advance and an approach to
the solution of the great original
problems. Women are as intelligent,
high-minded and honorable as men,
They are as much interested in good
government. All great moral move
ments appeal to them more forcibly
than to men. They own property;
they are a large element in the in
dustrial, commercial and professional
life of the world Woman perhaps
has done more to uplift the race than
all other agencies combined. Her in
fiuence has been felt in all charitable
and philanthropic work Why should
not the same influence be felt in her
civic and political life?
cannot see how equal suffrage
would interfere with woman's higher
qualities, her modesty and her NOR
atty Moreover, fail to see how
it would initiate against her special
vocation in the family as mother and
queen of the household. Politics. far
from degrading her, would, / think,
be purified by her taking an active
part in them, and better government
would result from her having an au-
thortative voice in all the reforms
and establishments that are advocated
in our economic, industrial and do
nestle life.
One of the bitterest foes of woman
suffrage is the United Liquor Deal
crs' association, and in Michigan this
organization has laid aside large funds
for the purpose OF defeating this
great movement. Why should the
liquor war on wives and mothers
For the simple reason that were wo-
men given a voice in municipal affairs
we would not have a saloon at every
corner and young girls and boys reel
ing out of these places Homes are
disrupted by this great home Destroy
er, and it is an assured fact that one
half and more of the divorces today
are caused through liquor. Votes for
| women would settle this question.
Again, Juvenile courts should be
managed by women, those good wo-
men who have had practical expert
ence as wives and mothers In Our
large cities delinquent young girls are
brought before the bar of justice for
some misdemeanor These unfortu-
mates are often alone, tried by those
of the opposite sex and the situation
is narrowing. Here is where woman
could do the Samaritan's work, and
here is where she ought to be found,
, acting the part of the mother to the
hayward ones.
Another evil and a recognized
growing one is the white slave traffic.
We have had numerous instances of
this terrible traffic in flesh and blood
in Detroit recently. Were women
given the ballot, houses of ill-repute
would lessen in numbers in the red