The Washington herald., 1913-02-24
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GUNS ON ROOT
Senator'S Attitude on Woman
Suffrage Draws Attack from
Mrs. Owen kildare.
800 HEAR ADDRESS
Speaker Says New Yorker Only Con.
idered Society When Expressing
Himself on Subject

Senator Elihu Root. the latest member
of Congress to break into the lmelight
as opposed to equal suffrage. received his
share of attention yesterday. when Mrs.
Owen Kildare. one in the fore-rank of
social workers and an author OF note,
attacked the logic of the Senator's pub
lished anti-suffrage statement with shafts
of irony. Mrs. Kildare made her attack
at the Brighton yesterday before a mass
meeting of more than 800 persons
Mrs. Kildare accused the Senator OF
only taking the society woman into con-
sideration, when expressing himself fear
full of the loss they would suffer because
of the ballot. In making the statement
that Woman rules to-day by the sweet
and noble influences of her character.
Mrs Kildare says Senator Root evi-
dences the fact that he only takes the
"mollycoddle" view Of wOmanhood. She
complained that these same sweet In
fiuences" were much too thin to heip
the millions of unshletered women In the
country protect themselves by minimum
wage laws, eight-hour laws and the
like.
These dear things whom the exer-
else OF the right of suffrage would hope
lessly contaminate and degrade and IN
hose insipid interest the intrepid Mr..
Hehin and Mr.. Root feel called upon TO
deplore the activity of woman for her
rights. do not need the ballot and, what
Is more. will never be compelled to use II.
Is Democracy of Women.
The equal suffrage movement represents
the democracy OF women. II Is a move
ment of women-lntellectually weaned-
in the interest Of fellow women. in the
interest OF their children; yes. in the In
terest OF the men themselves, TO whom
we would bring the woman's intelligence
a., H.. ~ a
better government.
Mr. Root is wrong in his assumption
that women want TO take mems work
There Is a place in the councils of gov
ernment where women's voice Is espe-
cially necessary. There are functions or
government for which womans nature
Is especially adapted. This place and
these functions woman will find upon re-
ceiving her right Of suffrage. and TO them
she will devote herself. leaving to man
those things which in their nature arc
for man.
MIR. Roots fear lest women enter into
politics, which Is modified war shows
that he neglects 10 take into account the
sweatshop. the factory, and the drudg-
cry as mother in the poor mans home.
where woman does not wage modified
warfare" but real. stern war. Don't
they fight bitter fights, these pitful crea-
lures who must eXpend their lives In
grinding toll and misery long before their
allotted spans are run? Mr.. Root must
have had a very stormy tine in politics,
IL he takes these poor creatures into
consideration, and still feels impelled to
warn them from the ballot box because
politics is modified war"
Mrs. Kildares touches were greeted
with bursts of laughter. She intimated
that now Senator Root has Joined
forces with Representative Hehin OF
Alabama there is no further cause for
lonesomeness on the outspoken anti-suf-
frage side. She closed by saying:
I'VE will win suffrage. even. as Mr..
Root SAYS. tho the heavens fall The
heavens won't fall. however. We will
only grow closer to them right here on
earth That Is ALL