The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-07
PEOPLE S FORUM
EIeAIn Helns snrragists.

Editor The Richmond Nirginian:
Sir.--Congressman Helm cot Alabama, IS
gaining quite a good deal of advertising by
reason of his opposition to woman suffrage.
which brings to mind incident recently
approached woman of wealth who
newcomer to her city and extended to her
invitation to become member Of the Suffrage
league. No" was the reply. II have CON
sdered the matter carefully from every angle
and have decided that ! can gain greater
notoriety by being an anti than by Joining your
league" Even the newspapers state that
since Mr.. Itehin has arrayed himself the
side Of the ants he has become quite fam
Gus"
In Lynchburg recently in making an address
under the auspices Of the Y, NJ. c. A. there Mr.
Helm congratulates tho state Of Virginia upon
the fact that woman suffrage has found no
followers in the home state of washington and
Jefferson. INnchburR is an extremely strong
suffrage center and throughout Virginia there
are numerous leagues with memberships total
ing many thousa 0ds. Mr. Helms fact" is
like the facts of all the other ants-upoh
investigation they turn to fiction
Mr. uenin then spoke beautifully and feel
irgly Of southern clSvalry and 3 protection
1t affords the women so that 1T Is neither
proper nor necessary that woman should vote.
The cxrencles of tho occasion do not authorize
demand it." Again his statement is open
TO challenge. The laws referring to women
and children IN tho southern States are no.
torjous for ther lack of chiyalry and lack OF
protection The age of legal consent at which
"a girl may assent to her ruin Isl ten years in
Georgia, twelve years In Kentuckv ten years In
Mississippi and fourteen years in Virginia.
West Virginia, North and South Carolina and
fourteen years IN AabRma--Mr. Henins home
state. In Alabama there is no limit W the hours
women and children over twelve may be en-
ploved.
IIe dwells upon the noble service a woma n
renders in bringing children into the. world.
Rather II seems crime, whom ali know
that in the South when a child reaches the
age Of ten. twelve or fourteen the law with
1raws its protection and the greedy hand OF
commerce may snatch II from the nursery.
warp its little body and deaden it's soul or II
may fan victim to protected, vicious in
/ tercsts.
Mr.. Hehin seems 70 feel that the gift OF
prophecy has descended upon him. and predicts
that when the women get the ballot they Will
cry from the depths OF their sad souls I have
gained the ballot but / have lost the soul Of
womanly charm and sweetness" Has he over
looked the fact that twelve hour day of labor
in factories and sweat shops will not enhance
the beauty and sweetness of woman and leaves
her little time In which to cultivate the
"wonapiy charm upon which ne lays so
much stress?
However. Mr.. Hefiin is doing the cause Of
woman suffrage good rather than harm. He is
talking niue habout the enviable position
the women of the South occupy THAR the coun-
try at large wants To find ont tust what 1t all
mcans---the laws OF tho Southern States in their
relation t@ women are being closely scrntinized.
discussion is the greatest of all reforners. 1t
rationalizes everything 1t touches. 1t rohs prn-
ciples of all false sanctity and throws them
back on their reasonablenees. If they have no
reasona bleness, it ruthlessly brushes them out
of existence and sets up its conclusions in
their stead
ALICE OVERBEY TAYLOR.
Richmond Va