The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-04
TELL WHY
| THEY'RE OPPOSED
| TO THE BALLOT
ssociation Opposed to SUI
frage Gives Statement
From Headquarters
EXEMPTION is ONE
OF THEIR RIGHTS
My Eight Per Cent. Want
10 Vote and They Have No
Right to Force 1t
On Others


omen are fighting women on tn
gestion Of suffrage was expiaine
re today in the first authoritative
atement issued on the subject by tn
,tional Association Opposed to VIC
an Suffrage. The explanation wa
yen ont through the Washingto
adqdarters of the organization.
a reply to the reiterated question
why dn women who oppose sni
age organize a fight against 1t? VIII
npfy permit their suffrage sisters I
cure the vote, since the ants WI
4 be compelled to vote II the bal
is given to women"
The statement In reply, coming a
time when the suffrage question
ing axisated in Washington. and 1
veral important States with unusua
xor. Is particularly interesting. Tn
itement says:
Right Of Exemption.
I'VE more than any other organiya
IN believe In woman's rights. W
e lighting for woman's rights. Firs
the catalogue of woman rights
e right Of exemption. BY that W
can exemption from entrance int
tive politics and all that II involves
lie have an abiding faith In both tn
t~tice and the necessity OF this ex
hption, because ny virtue of II wa
hn Is able to do her half Of IN
prld's work Deprived Of this ey
aption. woman becomes an 'neon
luity Called upon to do double dut
e will face the failure which is tn
nit of an unnatural task
by no Juggling of the phrase 'wo
ans rights can the suffragists, VIII
amber only eight per cent of the wo
en- Of America. Justify their clair
at the lawmakers OF this countr
Guild force the burden Of the hallo
aon the remaining % per cent. VIII
kotcst against II, or are unwilling I
I've 1t.
Right 10 Do Coed.
TN she catalogue OF woman
Ehts in the right TO do good work.
h the rolls Of our organization ar
Ie. namts Of women nationally fam
ss for their charitable and ph!ian
}ropic work Actuated by the sam
fetives which led them TO help III
fedy and suffering, they have under
ken the fight against woman suf
age because they are convinced o
lie criminal injustice of the PROPOSE
I'M TO thrust upon the vast ma jorit
American women the additional
Id unnecessary duties Of the voters.
l"when khe suffragists define III
tllot as wemnn's right, they mani
|st distressing ignorance of politi
IL economy. The francise Is not
kht. nor privilege. II IN duty,
krn duty. imposed by the State upo
lat class OF persons thought by tn
late To be best equipped Ia perform
Most particularly Is the franchis
bt piaything to amuse idle womef
is not something which can b
sed or ignored at the will Of the per
ms 10 whom IL has been given, TIL
Inragists do not appear 10 realiz
lis fact when they degrade thei
bctrine with the absurd declaratlo,
lat those womfn who do not wan
vote may remain away from tn
Ills,
rights" In Illinois.
"As a matter OF fact we conssde
10 franc ise 70 be so big. SO sacred
I'd so binding an obligation. whei
ice IL has been conferred upol
omen. that we ask all our member
id sympathixers in suffrage State
90 to the polls ut every primar,
I'd every election. We have jus
me so In Illinois. although we ar
,nvinced that the limited suffraE
r women was obtained in tina
ate In an outrageous manner.
I'VE believe that the annals q
merican politics show no duplicate
this act In which the Legislature o
State arbitrarily forced the fran
rise on the women OF that State
ithout giving them an opportunity I,
J heard. even through the votes o
lie men. We hope and expect to SCI
lis law repealed. but while 1t stand
! the statute books our women hav
& had the responsibility of tn,
anchise thrust upon them. must ex
else 1t as good citizens OF tn
ate