The Detroit times., 1913-04-22
CARDINAL TAKES
STAND AGAINST
SUFFRAGE CAUSE
In Interview, Cardinal Gibbons
Declares Miss MilhOlland
Was MisinfOrmed
SAYS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Is NOT AGAINST WOMEN
American Head of Church Gives
Views to Correct Wrong
Impressions

BALTIMORE. Nd April 2l--Car-
dinal Gibbons today emphaticaliy eA-
pressed his own personal opposition To
woman's suffrage. but Ia answer TO the
! recent utterances OF Miss inez Mil
! holland declared The mission OF the
church is 10 define faith and morals.
In other matters, individuals decide
| for themselves,
His eminence today discussed the
question OF equal suffrage in a special
interview with the United Press lie
took special pains 20 make IL clear
that be did not make his statement
/ in Il spirit of taking issue With the
snifragists. bat TO set forth his views
inasmuch as the ants and advocates
OF suffrage are now explaining their
sides of the question before the SEN
ate committee in Washington.
The cardinal declares that Miss
Milholland was in error when she
said the Catholic church was opposed
to equal suffrage, and had taken ex-
IRENE measures even 10 prevent wo-
men of the church reading literature
pertaining 10 the question.
The statement OF Miss Miiholland,
in which she quoted a western preiate
as TO the opposition OF the church to
equal suffrage was read to the car
dinal. He then said:
THAT is an error. The mission OF
the church is TO define faith and
morals. In other matters individuals
decide for themselves. The western
prelate' quoted must have spoken as
an individual. Personally. ] am OPP
posed to female suffrage. because | am
In favor of perpetuating the real dig
nifty of woman.
The Christian religion has exalted
woman TO her present sphere. She Is
no longer the slave Of man. or the toy
OF his caprice, but the equal, the peer
OF man. She is the queen OF the do
nestle kingdom, and her proper
| sphere is the home She is Justly
honored everywhere by reason of her
sex. Now, II she were to embark on
the arena of political life il is very
much to be feared that her dignity
would be impaired. II not jeopardized.
Must Be Soiled in Dust.
Observe the effect or this present
agitation on many women AS soon
as women seek TO enter the arena OF
politics, she may expect 10 be soiled
by its dust. And the grace and charm
inherent in woman would be very
scIiOuSfy Hbpditu ny neT Tuue COLI
tact and contention With men I'm po-
litical life. Woman's sphere is the
home. and as wife and mother she
will have ample occasion TO engage all
her time and faculties. The wife who
absents herself from her home habit.
ually. inevitably neslects her children,
and causes her husband 10 suffer by
her absence.
The country has already quite
enough voters. Although women may
not now exercise suffrage. the finest
among them are voting by proxy
Their power is incalculable. We can
not eXaggerate the influence OF good
woman on the men OF her circle. Let
me illustrate by an anecdote.
I'VE read that Themistocles was on
one occasion approached by his son
who asked a considerable favor. 4
cannot grant what you ask said the
great general. You must go to your
mother. II is true that Greece rules
the world; that Athens rules Greece;
that | rule Athens; bur. my son. your
mother rules me-
Since 1t Is beyond dispute that the
most representative women are get
ting what they want indirectly, | be-
lieve that society cannot AFFORD TO
risk the safety of the family and the
destruction Of the home. What would
be- the value 10 our national life OF
votes obtained by the rag-tag tactics
that disgrace the name OF woman
hood .