University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1913-02-18

HuNH'cs WHICH SOiiupt HIcH. ne dt
vocates of woman suffrage conten
that the granting of suffrage to won
en- will prove panacea, that the evil
which have crept into our politica
p system will be Immediately abolished
They forget that the granting of SUI
frage to women will enfranchise all
the bad as well as the good. Fo
among women as among men. ther'
are the corrupt. the vicious and tn,
mercenary.
The question of woman suffrage i.
not a question of equality between
the sexes. for suffrage is a duty rath.
er than a privilege. The duty of wo,
man is of a nobler and more vital
character and she should be proud OF
her position rather than dissatisfied
with it. Society requires her services
in the home rather than in the forum
Better that the state should suffer
from corrupt methods i'm politics than
from the corruption of our youth.
Education is the real power of re-
form. Sociologists will tell you that
of the great controlling forces of So
ciety, as law and government, religion,
morality and education, all depend
greatly upon education; that is by far
the most important factor in social
control. From this it would seem
that the woman could do her greatest
good at home in educating her child
rem.
DO women want suffrage? Seeming
ly they do not. for of the twenty-four
million who are old enough to vote
only scant two million are doing
anything toward getting the ballot.
What about the other twenty-five mil
lion who apparently do not care a
snap about the ballot? They will feel
rs If they should exercise their right |
if the right should be given |
hem. They would be Indifferent and
gnorant in regard to political mat
ers. 1t is this element that is par
icularly dangerous to the workings
# our democratic system of govern
nent. Isn't ignorance and indiffer-
nee the thing which makes politics
o corrupt among the negroes?
A woman has no sense of DEM
cracy. Social distinction is far
reater among women than among
len. Picture the scrubwoman and
he woman lawyer; the washerwoman
nd the exclusive society matron; the
ill-worker and the daughter of the
ill-owner on equal terms at the =,
,l,s. ,
Another reason given by advocates q
woman suffrage is that woman has I
right to vote. That can hardly be
MED. but in the same sense she has
right to wear her hair cut short, to IL
ear trousers and frock coat. and to :,
,rk in the fields with the men. She h
is right to spend all her money e.
tin whistles or chewing gum. 1t Il
not question of right. 1t is a a'
estion of sanity, of duty and of prac- 4,
ability. -
The average woman knows nothing
politics. A young woman. a fresh
IN in this University. was asked who
S the President of the United States
4 she replied: Woodrow Wilson"
she qualified? 1t is certain that her
er educational attainments are far
I'VE those of the average male
er.
will tell you that vo
men are weaker than men because ad
were created that way and be J.,
Ise they have so many things TO ,,.,
rry them. If this be true. why
We this added strain upon them
IN only scant one-tweIfth of them
1t the ballot? Here is what one
nan says of politics:
What intricacies of interests and
'S-int'rcs,s II involves; what del
q points are involved: what com
misses are necessary; what wis 49,,
'OOp IHF CUE
PEP0rTTs