The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-12
' ii9iS9iilE ;' GRtGIFI
HOME By THE VOTE
Anti-Sufragist Leader Delivers
Caustic Critis!srn Of -Safra-
gists and Methods
iMMODESTY OF DRESS
LOOSENESS OF TALK
Mrs. Dodge Declares That
Women While Seeking Bal
lot DoNot Realize Weight
Of influence

WASHINGTON. May IL In Wow
of what, happened in various parts
of the country, 1t 10 high time Tor
every thinking man and woman to
realize that back Of the woman suf-
frage disturbance In the question OF
scx--or rather a distortion OF the
sex question"
In this way Mrs. Arthur. III. Dodge.
of New York. president Of the Ma
tional Association Opposed to Woman
Suffrage, opens a statement on the
suffrage question. given out here to-
day at the washington headquarters
Of her organization.
The only sure manner of cstimat-
Ing the real meaning or strength Of
the so-calied suffrage movement"
continues Mrs. Dodge. lis to see
clearly the motives and underlying
reasons back Of IL. The suffrage dis
turbancc il in plain words sex dis
turbancc. Many women who are suf-
fragists do not realize this, but II ~
fact nevertheless. just as the impulse
IF some other women to take UP fool
ish fancies and unnecessary move
ments Is the result of that uneasiness
and straining after artificial hNppf~
ness, and unnatural enjoyment. which
indicates an unsettled, and an I'M
satisfactory state OF mind.
Have Distorted Views
We who oppose woman suffrage
are convinced that women sufrragists
support their cause because they
view the whole situation from an an
natural angle. One morning In New
York / heard a young woman dis
ceursing with great eioauence on how
she ana her sisters could improve the
morals and manners OF men IL they
were given the ballot. THAI evening
this same girl was at fashionable
danes. She. was gpwned in an ex-
tremeiy decailete fashion. and the
way She danced and bore herself was
suggestive. ~ say the least. do
not believe this girl ever realized that
while her vote would be rowerless
In an election. the cut Of her gown,
the manner of her dancing, and the
words of her conversation could be
made 6 tremendous influence for
good among her friends, men and
women. and thus throughout the
whole community.
''she was msied as many other
women are by the mirage that good
morals. and good manners, can be
tegtsfated into men and women.
Morals and manners are the fruits
OF wumcns minds, not Of the voting
booth. And. just so long as women
clamor - nolisieal rights and yet
dress lin garments that are the def
milton of bad taste, all the votes in
the world will not change the trend
of sentiment in society. and through
ont the whole population OF the coun-
z try.
Calls II Spectacle.
When l say that the suffragists
rely after all on their sex. and on the
appeal Of their sex to men. / am re-
peatins only what men on the side
walks and In the club windows of
New York said when the suffrage
parade passed up Fifth avenue in
New York last Saturday Here was
the spectacle Of a woman demanding
the ballot So as To put down the
social evil and vice Of all kinds and
in order To make her platform more
emphatic. she appeared CARRIED In a
manner which would have aroused re-
sentiment among any set OF ladies and
gentlemen. Could anything have been
more ridiculous? ! am certain that
nothing could have proved more con-
clusiyely the fact that sex confusion
il the source from which has sprung
the cry for woman suffrage.
1T was Olive Echreiner'in Women
and Labor, '-who said that the feed
Ing bottle for the baby waa = labor
saving device. That declaration comes
from q sufYragist who maintains that
the vote is the penacea for all evils:
and yet all medical authorities state
that the bottle fed has y poor chance
TO live. Let me make this illustra-
ton clear. The suffragfsts wish to
vote and to campaign. sacrificing for
that right their duties ~ mothers and
pfeeerveFs OF home. II baby Ii to
he sacrificed to the bottle 10 that the
home may be cructfied by the ballot,
what is 70 become Of the progress and
reform which these advocates Of
votes for women predict.
Lowering Of Ideals.
I'VE are in the midst Of remark
able period In our history. There II
more immodesty In dress. more loose
ness In conversation, and more Inn
propriety In dancing than has ever
even In so-called high society. or
among those who are in other condi-
tons Back OF these revelations Of
the lowering Of wOmen's ideals. and
conduct, there II the same reasons
- that which actuates the suffragist
dlaturbance.
There was q time not 30 long ago
when young girls demanded more
freedom and liberty, and escape from
the CLOSE scrutiny Of this home and
watchftil eye Of the chaperOne. They
obtained this liberty and suddenly We
are now confronted with the reAlfEa-
ton of how terribly easy g may es
Tho small progress which woman
suffrage haa made In this country
and We must remember that thA WO-
\ man ssnfkrase cause repreeentn only
per cent Of American Wn1n
his chivalry and hiss dialtke ~ Aony
women anything. hnns o3vaA thoGn nomo
Of fheaa thines which thAy sHGkNA 6of
on the Old theory Nthak MogaSs should