New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-04
ANTS" TELL WHY
THEY FIGHT BALLOT
National Association Issues
First Authoritative State
ment on the Subject.
STAND FOR WOMAN'S RIGHTS
And the First of These, 1t Is
Maintained, Is Exemption
from the Onerous Duties
of Active Politics.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau. J

lfEOm Inc lIlpui" fbE'dN
Washington, Aug. 3.-Why women
are fighting women on the question of
suffrage was explained here to-day In
the first authoritative statement on the
subject issued by the National Asso-
citation Opposed to Woman Suffrage
and given out through its Washington
headquarters. It is a reply to the re-
iterated questions: Why do women
who oppose suffrage organize a fight
against it?" why not simply permit
their suffrage sisters TO secure the vote,
since the ants will not be compelled
to vote If the ballot is given to
women"
The reply, coming at time when
the suffrage question Is being agitated
in Washington and in several states
with unusual vigor. says:
we. more than any other organiza-
ton. believe in woman's rights. We
arc fighting for woman's rights. First
in the catalogue Of woman's rights Is
the right of exemption. BY that we
mean exemption from entrance into
active politics and all that il involves.
We have an abiding faith in both the
Justice and the necessity of this ex-
emption. because by virtue or II woman
,s able 10 do her half Of the worlds
work. Deprived of this exemption
woman becomes an incongruity. called
upon TO do double duty, she VIII face
the failure which Is the fruit Of an I'M
natural task
Deny Justice Of Claim.
by no Juggling of the phrase WON
ar,e rights can the suffraglsts, who
number only S per cent of the women
Of America, justify their claim that the
lawmakers of this country should
force the burden Of the ballet upon the
remaining 90 per cent. who protest
against II or are unwilling TO have IL.
"Tn the catalogue Of woman's rights
,s the right to do good works. On the
rolls OF our organization are the names
Of women nationally famous Tor 'he'r
charitable and phianthropic WORK.
Actuated by the same motives WHICH
,ad them 10 help the needy and suner-
ing they have undertaken the hght
oga,net woman suffrage because they
are convinced of the criminal injustice
If the proposition to thrust upon lhe
vast majority Of American women the
additional and unnecessary duties OF
the voter.
when the suffragists define the ball
lot "a a woman's right they manifest
distressing ignorance OF polucai
economy. The franchise is not rlgh'
nor a privilege. II is duty, a stern
duty. imposed by the state upon that
class OF persons thought by the state
TO be best equipped TO perform II.
Most particularly is the franchise
not a plaything to amuse idle women.
# is not something which can be USED
or ignored at the will Of the person TO
whom il has been given. The SUI
fragists do not appear to realize this
fact when they degrade their doctrine
With the absurd declaration that those
women who do not want to vote may
remain away from the polls.
Duty 70 Vote.
"As a matter of fact, we consider
tho franchise TO be so big, so sacred
and so binding an obligation when
orce II has been conferred upon
woman that we ask all our members
and sympathizers in suffrage states TO
go TO the polls at every primary and
overv election. We have just done so
IN Illinois. although we are convinced
that the limited suffrage for women
was obtained in that state in an out
rageous manner.
"\ye believe that the annals Of Amer
loan notifies show no duplicate OF this
act. I'm which the Legislature of state
arbitrarily forced the franchise on the
women of that state without giving
them an opportunity to be heard even
through the votes Of the men. We
hope and expect to see this law re-
pealed, but while 1t stands on the
statute books our women, having had
the responsibility of the franchise
thrust upon them. must exercise II as
oood citizeps of the state"