South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-15
SUFFRAGIsT ASKS
FOR SQUARE DEAL
Member of Franchise League
Tells Mother Indiana of Her
Sons Indifference.

Hoosier suffragists made the most
of the opportunity offered last week
by the state fair which gathered men
and women 10 Indianapolis from all
parts OF the state. The advocates of
suffrage were busy pushing their cause
and seized the occasion TO discuss the
issue with willing and unwilling list
eners. The Franchise league had a
booth at the fair from which the
members distributed suffrage litera-
ture and badges. The following letter
written by one Of the women who
were in charge of the tooth proves
that even a woman suffragist has a
FRANCHISE BOOTH. STATE
FAIR. Sept. 10.
Dear Mother Indiana-Although
your children-my brothers and sis
ters-differ in sentiment as TO the
practicability or eXpediency of equal
suffrage, l know your big warm heart
expands to every movement that looks
to the forwarding of your women chill
dren; and by the eternal feminine,
mother o mine. believe you are cast
ing curious chances over your shout
der at Sister Illinois, who has lifted
her daughters TO the stature of her
sons.
OH the obstinacy of your legislature
boy. Mother, it seems SO strange, so
lacking in family pride, that Legisla-
ture should take more interest in hogs
than he does in his sisters. Can't you
reason with him?
7 am writing this in the between
whites of sticking pins into yellow
votes for women" streamers and Of
fering those streamers to my brothers
and sisters as they pass our tempo
rary abiding place.
Working Hard.
We are all working till we are ready
10 drop. One of us has just said she
thinks she must look like a Billiken
with his frozen raucous smile. And
sometimes not even a smile will win
moments hearing for our cause.
Most OF your children are polite, if
not responsive to our friendly over
lures as they pass by. But some!
Mother, I've a painful remembrance
Of hearing you say in days agone that
you wished some inspired citizen would
invent a spanker 10 help out. Then
1 thought bitterly of the unwisdom of
Solomon. but now I'm with you and
him The impishness of bOyhood
never has struck me so forcibly as it.
does today.
My colored brothers and sisters are
uniformly courteous, even boys or the
hcbbledehoy are borrowing of cour-
tesy The women smile understand
ingly Yes they know the negro
women are working for the franchise,
too. Yes, thank you, they will take a
badge and one for the little girls, too
Mother, I'm thinging an appeal for
liberty in any direction should closely
touch this people, who so bitterly
know the meaning of bondage!
Encouraging Expressions.
So many encouraging expressions
for the franchise cause are heard!
Men come to US asking for badges,
saving they are glad to wear them.
Some are of other states, where wom-
an suffrage has been granted, and are
proud of their states.
This man is big. Overbearing, in
sulting. AS a browning wittlcism ne
calls back: "Oh. you and Mis- Pank-
hurstt" One of us suggests that ne
read the newspapers concerning Mrs.
Pankhurst.
This gentleman says quietly, yes, he
will have a badge, adding: ITO see II
it bears the union label" on. L say
that were hardly practicable for the
streamers. but 1 point triumphantly 10
the pamphlets we are also giving out,
which do bear the union label. And l
tell him that the woman movement
stands for all things that are for the
lettering of the workers condition.
Tired. But Proud.
Mother, dear, / am Ieduy W
home. We are all tired but proud OF
our DAYS work Eleven thousand
streamers have futtered. if only BRIEF
lv. from hands and breasts. We have
met more kindliness than coldness,
we have laughed with our "argufiers'
and smiled with our sympathizers.
We are glad TO remember one wom-
ans words The franchise cause is
growing by leaps and bounds.
The resourceful lady has fastened
the tent flap, the red and blue bal
looms are given to little fellows near
bv. the machine drives up for US. III
waits while finish this on the outside.
I shall not expect you TO answer till
next year. or at least till the crops
are all gathered. But some nlght
when the littlest children are tucked |
in bed, take your pen in hand. mother
n mine. and wish our cause godspeed, \
and tell the legislature boy not TO be
a COOP forever.
With much love and many kisses,
Your daughter, .. 1.