The Washington herald., 1913-02-17
CAPITAL WOMAN WINS
ANTI-SUFFRAGE PRIZE
Mrs. Grace D. Goodwin Gets 500 for
the Best Letter on Why Women
Should Not Vote.

To the National Capital belongs the
Idistinction not only of being the storm
| center OF the activities of the leading
women suffragists. but also of being the
home of the woman who won first prize
in a national contest, conducted by a
New York newspaper. for the best letter
written by woman giving reasons why
women should not vote.
Mrs. Grace Duffeld Goodwin, OF 1905
Irving Street Northwest. was awarded
the first prize of 800. Interest in the con-
test was created in many parts of the
world. Among the 21,452 letters entered
In the contest We're some written by the
women Of England. Sweden. Algeria,
Italy, Cuba and the South African coun-
tries
Mrs. Goodwin is a prominent anti-suf-
fragist and is a hard worker for the cause
in which she believes She Is the author
OF "Anti-Suffrage; Ten Good Reasons" a
work which has been well received by
the public. Ten planks in the platform
formulated by the women suffrage So
cieties Of the nation are attacked in Mrs.
Goodwin's book
Mrs Goodwin's letter was one of the
shortest entered In the contest. 1t con-
tains only S59 words. as follows:
Tho Federal Constitution very wisely
leaves all electoral matters to the indi-
vidual States, and the question OF uni
versal 40 II suffrage must be settled by
each on e basis of it's Individual prob
lens. Sparsely settled agricultural States
ffnd small difficulty in an increased cleo
torate. even with added expense States
sheltering Morrdonism find reason for
desiring voters. Others. homogeneous
In character. fare no worse than
before. These facts do not consti-
tute a safe basis for nation wide
equal suffrage. In the South the illit-
crate male negro vote is n temptation
to corruption. Should these States as
sumo tho doouble burden. not offset by
the increased intelligent vote? Alabama.
Florida. Missouri. Virginia. Arkansas and
Texas. with many negroes. have no ed
ucstiOnal qualifications.
There are six and nne-half millions OF
allen males OF voting age in the entire
country and 45.6 per cent are naturalizcd.
Five years residence is required before
naturalization-al law often eyaded OF
these aliens, coming largely from South
eTn Europe, few have any conception OF
American governmental ideals: many are
radical Socialists. Elghty-three per cent.
live In New England and the Middle
West. The Far West has, therefore. no
negro and no alien problem, while New
and the Middle and Southern
States face grave dangers. Moreover.
only per cent Of the women OF this
country are seeking suffrage.
The school franchise, already granted
to women in thirty-six States, Is used nv
only per cent of the women Tax
paying suffrage Is granted TO women in
towns and villages of New York and
is not always used. Women do not use
the power they already possess. VIII
they do better with more
This is also a city problem. Twenty
two millions OF our people live in cities,
where electoral corruption presses hard |
est. largely because ignorance is exploit
II. In New York City I3SO0 illiterate
added to 5000 illlterate men. in |
, State without educational qualifications. |
would not materially advance the best |
interests Of that State or city.
American affairs should he settled, |
Tot upon the basis Of what can he done |
n some foreign country. but with full |
'ecognition Of the special dangers and
lifiiculties which face US here and now"