New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-29
THE PLEA FOR MRS. WAKEFIELD
Women Are Learning to Stand To
gether, Says Miss Cantwell.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: What a roar Of condemnation OF
the suffragists we are hearing becase
they are protesting in Connecticut agains.
the execution of a woman under sentence
OF death! one would think this was the
first time a pardon for a criminal mad
ever been asked. on the contrary thou
sands Of pardons are asked and granted
for criminals, many OF them murderer
every year. An, but those are men
That's different That is so ordinary that
We take it for granted.
A few years ago a man committed
murder in New York Was he executed
oh. no. Was he sentenced 70 life I'M
prisonment? No. He received sentence
OF Just six years imprisonment ana a.
the end Of two years received full pardon
Sufragists didn't have anything TO 20
with that pardon. That wasn't discriml'
nation in favor of women! That man
had rich and powerful friends-politlcal
friends with votes.
Mrs. Wakefield is a poor woman WIN
out friends. She got-sx years ""
Life Imprisonment? No. But the extreme
penalty OF the law-death. And she CID
not commit the murder herself, out was
an accomplish. Now, II that man got Only
six years, and served but two OF ;he sh
is there anything so very unfair and dis'
eliminating in favor OF women II we asA
only that this woman be not executed!
Again, Mrs. Morse a few years ago so'
up tremendous petition for paFu0'
for her husband. Were the newspapers
flooded with letters OF abuse Tor ME.
Morse? No, she was applauded, cav.
noble, and received many other beautifu'
epithets. She was asking pardon LOT :
man, you see. not for a woman. u
such new thing for woman 10 asA
pardons for her own sex, as heTetoio's
she has always appealed 70 meh-H',
husband, or brother. or sweetheart a.,
to men that seemed such oeaueiD'
sentiment-they adored II. But wheh s"'
begins to ask pardon for women all Wv
beautiful sentiment seems 10 disappear
and she is asking special privileges
Women are learning their last ah'
greatest lesson-to stand by one aho'A'
Long ago men taught them TO leah' a''
they became weaklings; then they leaih'.
10 stand alone, and became strohs Wv
selhsh-just for themselves each ohe-O''
now they are learning to stand tose'ne'
each for all-and they have grown s'O.'
and brave and unselfsh and human "''7
the help OF a few noble men. Ihals ~"
OF the reasons they are to-day s'a"u."
by this lone woman-not only oeo"1.
there is justice on their side, but pe'~N .
they believe justice should ai"~
whether for man or woman-be Tempe
with mercy, which is something uhhe@
OF In the long ago among those w.
feminine. womanly women OF whom
many men prattle and mourn as aepa'
forever. ,.A.
Suffragists believe that capital pune, ~,
ment should be abolished. II Is ~
OF barbarous ages along with canhipa"
and other atrocities. They aren't ASH.
that women be immune from puiis"'n,
for crime because they are women 80,
fragists believe. 100, "there is man'' a.
inconsistency in treating woii'"" Nan
totally irresponsible when ii Is q''' Ia
of making the laws. but as Iuh' a
fatally responsible when II Is quesuo1
breaking them" NORA CANTWEbN
New York, Nov. II, 1913