davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
FLORENCE KELLEY.


Florence Kelley stated in mass meet
ing that she felt the last twenty years ol
s,er life had been largely wasted in her
t,sfort to secure protective legislation Tor
women and children, and that 1t wouio
NAVE been better If she had devoted the
,ima 10 securing the ballot for women.
There can be no better evidence of the
success Of woman suffrage. both In
its value 10 the state as whole and us
lnfiuance upon women, than the fact
,hat the continual extension of suffrage
ts made by those states lying in Juxta-
position TO those already possessing IT,
Among the books recommended by the
h,resident of the National Anti-Suffrage
Association is one entitled 1.-The Ladies
Battle" by Mas Mollie Elliot Seawel. IL
all the other books Of reference recon-
amended by the Anti-Suffrage Association
are as inaccurate and as absolutely false
IN their statements as is this ladies' bat
lie. the information secured Will not be
very helpful. AS a sample OF the mac
curacy OF the statements made by Miss
Seawel in The Ladies' Battle" che as
serts that at certain meeting presided
such an uproar and confusion and disor-
der that the police were called in and
that Miss Shaw pounded the table with
her mallet with tears running down her
eheelIs, and declaring that the movement
had been set back twenty years by the
conduct Of the ladies present. AS mat
ter of fact, Miss Shaw was not present
AT the meeting referred TO, she did not
preside, she knew nothing of the holding
OF the meeting or what took place In IL
untH she saw the report In distorted
NEWSPAPER statement. The entire story.
as quoted by Miss Seawell, was entirely
made up, utterly false, without one word
Of truth as far as Miss Shaw's connec-
ton with the meeting or in regard TO
any statement which Miss Shaw made
respecting It. In fact II was a faxed al
fair, and yet Miss Seawell, without making
any inquiry. without knowing anything
about the truth or falsity of IL. inserts II
I'm her book From the absolute unrela-
bility OF this story we can judge of the
reliability Of the rest Of the book.
The claim that there is any attempt On
the part Of woman suffragists TO force
women 10 vote Is entirely unfounded, as
there is no desire OH the part OF women
suffragists to compel any woman TO vote
who does not wish to do so. any more
than there is on the part Of men TO COM
pei men to vote who have no desire to
cast their ballots
The claim, however, on the part Of
anti-suffragists that granting the suf-
frage 10 the women who desire II will
compel the women who do not wish to
vote to do so because they are conscien-
tious In the performance OF their duty, If
true, would entirely disprove other state
.fnents made by the nnti-sunragists and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
Mrs Co<<xe Cboo.sa,, CoH
o--rz6eZ< OF tie I,a<eSH1/fo1oZ
S.1I~age Xuso'ee':

be reached is that there are but few
anti-suffrag sts. or else the vote Of wom-
en- would be very heavy. To try to prove
that the large majority of women are
anti suffragists. and that granting the
suffrage will compel them to vote, and
then Immediately try TO prove that where
women have the suffrage but few
women vote, naturally nullifes the value
OF any statement based upon these con-
ficting arguments.
All of the contention of anti-suffragists
that granting suffrage TO women who de-
sire It would compel the women who do
not desire il TO vote is completely nu'li-
fed by facts. for it is very easy TO show
that where women possess the ballot the
women who are opposed TO suffrage co
not feel any obligation TO use 1t what
ever; IL they did so the vast majority OF
women would be voting wherever the
suffrage is extended even partially to
women.
ANNA HOWARD SHAW,
President National American Woman
Suffrage Association.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
DISAGREES WITH Mr.. ROOT
Reasons for George Foster Pea.
body's Support of Suffrage.

appreciate the honor OF the request
that reply to the argument made by the
distinguished senior Senator from New
suffrage to women.
Senator Root says: III suffrage were a
natural right, then women should have II
though the heavens fall" He also says:
1T is not natural right. but Is simply
means OF government, and the sole qucs-
ton is whether government by the suff-
rage OF men and women will he better
government than by men alone" | chal-
lenge this assertion an an absolute con-
tradicton Of the basis on which the suff-
rage OF men Ia placed by the Declaration
Of Independence and the constitutions OF
the United States and the various states
Of the Union. We may briefly state this
basis as the consent OF the governed"
and it Is always peculiarly pertinent to
cite the words OF Lincoln: Government
Of the people. by the people and for the
people VIII the eminent publicist claim
that the assurance OF better govern
ment'' Is the basis for our granting the
franchise to the ignorant and illterate
man, whether he be negro or Anglo
Saxon. Slav or Latin. Celt or Turk? Some
anti-suffragists would reply that they
would not grant the franchise to such.
but our constitutions do so admit men
without reference TO the question Of bet
ter government" I claim that they are
so admitted as a natural right" by which
they can better protect their own inter-
csts and more fully develop their man.
hood. No person can be fully developed
without assuming responsibility. And
only by thus assuming the full RESPONSE
hiIitics of citizenship can one render tho
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
INFLUENCE OF AN IDEA.

II is claimed by the opponents to Wom-
an. suffrage that all the changes wrought
during the last sixty years would nave
come naturally through the process OF
evolution. but il Is d remarkable TACT
,o,rted ont by Judge Sewell, of Massa-
cbusetts that more good laws have been
enacted for the benefit of women and
children during the last fifty years, since
the woman suffrage agitation began thap
had been enacted in five thousand years
preceding that time. The various changes
which are pointed out as of vast benent
nv the anti-suffragists, and of which they
take equal advantage with the suffragists'
have been secured largely by the suf-
fragists as a by-product Of the effort to
secure the ballot. But IT Is the undoupteo
opinion Of every woman who has strug-
gled for these changes that they could
have been effected in much easier
simpler and much shorter period II women
had had political power, and that there
has been a great waste Of the energies OF
the women OF the United States and vast
suffering has accrued TO innumerable peo-
ple because Of the delayed legislation
which could have been secured had wom-
en- had the ballOt IN tne DesHiiihS'
The women who began this movement
were the foremost thinkers and phiian-
thropists of their day, and there nave
come TO the ranks of suffragists from that
time a large majority of the women VINO
have been doing the educational ana
philanthropic work of the country. There
is not a woman president Of leading
woman college I'm the United states TO-
day who is not strong advocate OF
woman suffrage. All the well known
and leading philanthropic workers-Jane
Adams, Mrs. Raymond Robbins, Julia
Lathrop, Florence Kelley, Mrs. Maud
Nathan, Miss Dreier and many others
declare that their work could be better
done and more effectively and easily done
81 the women Of these United States wero
voting citizens.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09

tion in London last October aud will
next meet at Budapest next June. at
the time Of the convention OF the Inter
national Woman Suffrage Alliance. the
great woman's organization. with It's dele
gates from twenty-scvcn nations.
In the second place. we believe that this
is the highest form OF chivalry. The ny
pothetcal pedestal or throne counts FOR
very little with the modern woman COM
pared with that true tribute which seeks
her comradeship and her cooperation.
We call upon all men who believe IN
this kind Of chivalry and In the justice
Of democracy to Join their local mems
leagues for woman suffrage and help for
ward this great movement. What counts
in this country when you want a thing
is votes, and we men are the voters. Now
is the time to use our direct influence to
a good purpose.
JAMES LEES LAlDLAW.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
ROOT A "Trip VAN WINKlE'
Mrs. Gait Says He Is in Glass
with Ex-Sultan.

What estimate will posterlty put upon
Elihu Root. Senator OF state. once
Cabinet minister and for many years
reputed as a Republican statesman? Va
its judgment depend upon his views on
woman suffrage as expressed in last sun
days Tribune he certainly would not %
listed with statesmen, for statesmen "e
leaders of great causes, champions o.
human liberty and sympathizers with the
struggle OF every class. II not states'
man, what then? A political reacuonary'
pure and simple; Rip Van Wrinkle WHO
has slept not twenty but hunaIsA
years. To hear his words, one m'sn'
imagine that Cato the Elder was address,
ing the Roman populace. or Aoo.u'
Hamid, polygamous eX-Sultan, was w
scribing the sphere of woman. The op'h-
ions OF all three vary by such tribes 40
TO make negligible difference.
Our Senator. being an educated mA"
among men. is aware that mans postum
In the world has moved on and on u""'
his world OF to-day bears little RELATION p"
that OF even q century ago, but ne ape
emily has been 80 absorbed In the s'uu'
and administration OF ancient law tna' ~
Is utterly unaware that womans posiuo.
in the world has moved on, too, ana "s'
no combination OF New York ana ho'"a"
Senators plus Turkish Sultans can p''
her back In the old sphere There Is ~
new woman" but there arc new uN"'1
and modern woman asks that her pV''
ton In life shall be brought up TO oaN
and adjusted to meet the new conuit'o''''
Our Senator says; THE sole question: ~
be discussed is whether governinen.
the suffrage of men and women WIZ
better than by the suffrage OF men a'o"''
Is he ignorant of history, or uoe'
think the public is? That Is not now w.
has It ever been, the sole. or even Wv
chief, question when classes OF uhe",
franchised human beings have asheu
the vote. The sole question mas Wv.
how to secure the kind OF government y.
unenfranchlsed class wanted, ana Tue vs.
cussion has always ended, as ~ avs
will, In giving the vote In order 'ha' ~
dissatisfied class might have fair ch~"'
to set what 1t wanted.
II the sole object of extensions OF su
frage Is the establishment OF "oes' eo'
ernments," who is to Judge when '"a
best has been attained? Naturs".,
those who have made tho goverhn'",
think well of their work. But wha'
others? Working men were not p'es0y
with the best government" producer
the property holders In our own coun',
q generation ago, and they got the Vo's
consequence. IL the Senator Will invsss
gate bit he will find that while N s."
eral our government may not be ce'~
on account Of the addition Of tho w''-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
Or. Shaw States Grounds for
Her Faith in the Cause, in
the Van Of Whose ADJ
vocates She Has
Long Fought.

Tho object OF the National American
Woman Suffrage Association. as denneo VI
lts constitution. is TO secure protection IN
,beir right TO vote TO the women citizens
nj the United States by appropriate ma
,ioral and state legislation. This has
been the well defined object from the very
beginning Of the association, iorty-lour
wears ago. Prior To that time there were
small groups of women banded together
10 secure certain rights and privileges
which we're denied To- women in all the
then civilized nations of the world
Among the other demands made by Won-
en- al their first national convention sur
frage was declared TO be tho right pro-
iccti,e Of an other rights. and while the
primary object of the association was 10
secure the vote for women they did not
devote all their attention to this one pur-
nose. for in their demands they included
The RIGHT to personal freedom. TO acquir-
ing an education, to earn "A living, to claim
their own wages. to own property, TO make
contracts. 10 bring suits, TO testify IN
court. 10 possess their children, 10 claim
q fair share of the accumulations during
marriage. none of which rights were pos
sosscd bv the women Of this nation when
the first woman suffrage convention was
held at Seneca Falls. y. T.. in 1913.
I Recognizing that these reasonable ana
Just demands Of women could he secured
only through law. the suffragists realized
that unless they could secure the means
hy which those who enacted and enforced
laws were elected to office, the claims OF
women would not be generally recognized
and while they have been struggling 70
secure the most valuable of all rights the
right of self government in republic
they have also been working TO secure
changes in the laws affecting women
property and education and children ana
changes IN the industrial world whlcn
control all their relations in life.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
NEED WOMEN-LAlDLAW
Their Power to Help in Solving
Problems To-day.

Equal suffrage is not alone a womans
problem. and the burden Of obtaining the
franchise for women should not be borne
by them alone. Men are beginning to
realize more and more that the great
moral, economic and educational questions
OF the day cannot be solved by men alone,
but require women's different point OF
view. and men should demand that the
latent force Of woman's intelligence be
utilized. In these days We are looking for
efficiency, and yet we are wasting the
power of wOmen's intellect by restraining
her efforts instead of developing them
and using them for the benefit Of the
community. OF course, women are diff
ferent physically and have a different set
Of interests. That Is Just the reason we
need them in the government IL their In
terests were the same as that OF men
there would be less reason for their en-
Reimbursement II all classes OF men had
the same point OF view one man or one
class OF men could just as we'll govern.
AS a fact, all classes Of men demand the
franchise, believing that they may there
by best conserve their own interests.
The complicated problems of civilization
require the serious consideration of every
intelligent citizen, regardless Of sex or
class. We want our children properly
taught in the schools. We want our
streets kept clean. We want decent moral
conditions surrounding our homes. so that
our boys and girls may be safe. We want
wholesome food to cat on our tables Wo
want clothing which is made OF the ma
terials from which II is named. In other
words, we don't want TO be cheated Of
those benefits and safeguards which we
are entitled TO receive from the govern
ment who should look after these es-
sentialy economic and domestic ques-
tons? This Is supposed to be woman's
work. Why not ask her to do 1t and give
her the power TO regulate? Obviously
such power is conferred by the ballot and
the ballot alone. We men realize that we
cannot control governme conditions
without the vote. why should we vainly
imagine that women could do so? Most
men have all that they can attend to in
looking after their business and the laws
concerning business.
To-day more and more women are ready
W tuht iOiu anu Hcip. % lar from OlS-
couragin2 them We shoulc urge them on
Experience In suffrage states and coun-
tries has amply proven that the gov
ernmental spheres OF men and women do
not conflict, but rather, supplement and
strengthen each other. In the first place.
for these reasons OF governmental ex-
pediency voting men have now organized
leagues for the advancement OF the cause
of equal suffrage, not only in this coun-
try. but also In Europe. In many of our
states there are one or more state or
local mems leagues, including many uni
versity and college suffrage clubs. These
are tied together by our National Mems
League for Woman Suffrage. which, in It's
turn, is affiliated with the leagues of
practically all the European counties In
the International Mems League for Wom-
an Suffrage. which had i;s great conver-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09

would destroy their entire arguments
against woman suffrage.
While making the boast that 10 Per
cent of the women of every state are
opposed to woman suffrage, and also
making the claim that if the suffrage Is
granted the anti-suffra gists arc 30 con-
sclentious that they will vote. they Try 10
show that very few women use the SUI
frage where it is granted one OF the
strong points of the anti-suifragsts at
the present time is that only - per cent
Of tire women of San Francisco voted Al
the last election. though they overlook
the point that more than - per cent oil
the women of Los Angeles voted. But
taking their own plea that all anti-suf-
fragists vote who have the opportunity
and that only small number OF women
would vote when they do have the OPP
portunity, the only conclusion when can
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09

due and proper share Of service 10 the
government.
We grant the equal right OF suffrage to
men without regard TO their having DIFF
fcront degrees OF health and mental and
physical strength. Mr.. Root argues that
II IS merely "a question OF expodlcncy."
is II not the fact that men did not secure
their present right 10 vote by convincing
the English government Of the expedi-
cncy Of a change. but by force? This
force had no basis other than the claim
that they had natural right TO gov
ern themselves Was not the moral con-
yictlon which sustained the great anti
slavery movement that finally resulted I'm
the enactment Of the amendment to the
United States Constitution which was to
assure the right OF negro men 10 vote,
based on their natural rights?
But II "expediency" were 10 control.
who Is to decide the question as to which
is 'the better government" What war
rant is there for the acceptance OF a deci-
sion by only one-half OF the people and
all OF those men? II those In control OF
the government OF England at the time
OF the granting OF the Magma Charta had
been the sole Judges OF the expediency OF
so doing. without any consideration OF
force az factor. would that great
charter Of natural rights have been
granted? Reason and righteousness were
then established as the final authority.
am confident that those two pregnant
principles must finally relate the basis OF
government and the suffrage OH which II
rests. to natural rights
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
WOMEN ANSWER QUESTION: "WTY FORCE WOMEN 10 VOTE

be tho pulling by the sweet and NOBLE III.
fuences which woman's character WIN
with the mans help. and not "ithou''
transmit TO future generations
Surely the brilliant Secretary OF state
and eminent teacher has some vision OF
higher state Of politics, some hope Tor 's
evolution upward as well AS onward !
think his true outlook VIII be found' eve"
though Inc was unconscious Of its applica-
ton, in the splendid sentences with WHICH
na closed tho article In last Sundays Trio'
une: The true government is In the ram
lis. The true throne is In the househoiu'
The highest exercise Of power IS 'na'
which forms the conscience. influences inc
will. controls the impulses OF men, ana
there to-day woman is supreme and wom-
an rules the world" Where Will we ma
a truer and more eloquent description OF
what may be the evolution or poiticS'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
Harriet May Mills Denie.
That Women Risk Loss
Of Special Favors at
Hands Of Law by
Seeking Ballot.

Prophets of evil are still with us. Like
Poc's raven, the anti-suffrsgists predict
disaster. They are possessed by fear
fear of men, fear OF women, fear OF
change.
Our enemies at Albany love 10 scare
these "timid ladies" with bugaboos One
OF the liveliest anti-suffragists in the
Legislature is Assemblyman Cuvilier. lie
probably does not conceive how ridiculous
Is his latest proposition to remove by
constitutional amendment all legal dis
examinations between the sexes, nor has
the anti-suffrage association the least
sense OF the humor OF the situation when
it's president sends an Official protest
against the bill. One wonders II II Is all
byplay for the amusement OF the
spectators. Just what would be the re-
suit IL Mr. Cuviller could get his bill
through two legislatures and then carry
II at the polls? Such an amendment TO
the constitution, If legal. would take
privileges from men as well as from
women.
The widow now has the right OF dover
or the life use OF one-third of the real
estate, which often she has helped equally
to earn. OF this she cannot be deprived
But nothing more can she claim. A man
may will away the whole of his personal
property, il he SO desires. Not long ago
a man of wealth here In the city. whose
fortune consisted only of personal prop
erty, willed II all to woman whom he
preferred to his wife. The sufferer had
no redress.
But how does the man fare in case his
wife leaves no will? II children have
been born alive, he has the life use Of all
the real estate and full possession Of one
half Of the personal property. This "es-
tate by courtesy" is far preferable TO the
dover
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
p,~,1eesIs % zSe HEs~ X srSskofe
%o~oe7 Surge AS5oe'0<1os0A

when women take their true place along
side OF men In every affair OF life. and
with him purge politics by controlling the
impulses Of men. and women as well,
through the emphasis of conscience and
the right influence OF the will?
GEORGE FOSTER PEABODY.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
THE ASSURANCE OF SUCCESS.

But will not the thoughtful student who
considers the history OF the evolution Of
democracy necessarily conclude that, even
by the test of expediency. on which alone
Senator Root rests his case. the ultimate
verdict must be In favor Of granting the
suffrage TO women? VIII any find basis
in history for the hope even that the
ballot will be taken from the women by
the governments OF other countries or
withdrawn In the nine states OF this
Union? IL there not here an absolute
assurance OF the ultimate and early sue
cess of the superbly persistent woman
suffrage movement In every state? Mr.
Root says "the question OF expediency
upon this subject is not a question OF
tyranny, but a question of liberty. 4
question OF the preservation OF free con-
stitutional government, Of law. order
peace and prosperity" l submit in reply
that neither one OF the above can be
attained In full measure without the free
exercise by women Of equal powers with
men In the government. Can any one
consider with care recent developments
throughout the world. well as In this
country, and anticipate the final settle
ment of any OF the above Questions at
issuc while tho natural right Of suffrage