The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27
VIEWS OF "CONTENTED WOMAN
ON EQUAL SUFFRAGE QUESTION

The recent editorials in The Age Herald
on the question of woman's suffrage have
been Interesting reading, especially the
editorial on The contented Woman. I"
which said in substance, the "contented
woman is one of the gravest obstacles
the advocates of equal suffrage have TO
contend with
The assertion of the editor that before
the advocates of equal suffrage shall
transform the "contented woman into
the "discontented woman" the voter will
assert himself and cast his vote against
equal suffrage, to use the exact words of
the editor in the concluding paragraph,
he says: there is little question
but that mere man will interpose." i. one
of the millions of contented women, thank
the editor for his assurance for man-pro-
lection against the bomhardment of Votes
for women" fired into the home, the
church and the state, where the con-
tented woman labors not with an effort
that will bring about drastic change
in conditions, which have not been the
outcome of mans ballot alone, but the
result of material development
Among the millions of contented wom-
en- in America there are some who have
done things" are doing things" and
will continue to do things" Is there any
movement for the betterment of the
home, the church and the state in which
the hand of the "eontented woman" is
not felt and seen? Have all the great
philanthrope movements been man s
work alone? Have the wives, the daugh-
ters and even the sweetliearts of the men
of America been asleep when these chang
ing conditions for betterment have come
about? Does the spiritual advancement
of the church suffer because the content
ed woman" Is putting forth her efforts In
that direction? Does the state suffer
when the women use their influence to
have good men to make laws to govern
their offspring? Does the home suffer be-
cause contented women are doing their
God appointed work? 1t Is true that in
dustrial conditions are far from perfect,
true that woman herself suffers much
from social conditions. the "eontented
women" is not asleep to these conditions
but she knows that the All-wise Maker
of the universe intended her to be the
mastering power that controls, not by
ballot. not by force, not In the spirit of
the militant, but by the woman-control-
ing influence of right morals; the spirit of
1SduiiiS inolSdu VI uiiNlIlS ana the science
of education.
Woman is distinct organism, a creator
and doer and she can look back down
the ages of time and see herself Dur
den bearer and a slave Today the con-
tented woman of America is still the bur-
den bearer and the slave. but not water
carrier, etc She has the burden of great
responsibility weighing upon her; she feels
that she is a slave to her conscience, and
the so-called contented women of America
stands out the true ideal of womanhood-
Wrapped in a drapery Of idealsms which
have foated out on the wings OF anguish
and love: she whispers to the unborn
world that the Mother of men still
liveth."
The great financial conditions of ma
tion are of far less Importance when
compared with the sociological work of its
people. Human passions cannot be con- |
trolled by the ballot, more, far more is |
needed than the X opposite some mans
or womans name. when the voter thinks
will eliminate some certain evil Child