The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-14
ANTI WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The Extension of the Vote Is Opposed
By Vermont Association.

By Vermont Association.
To the Editor of The Barre Daily Times,
Barre, VT.
Dear Sir:--We are sending the en-
closed letter, which was printed in the
Burlington Free Press of Dee. 81, to
the editors of the newspapers Of the
state, asking them to insert ii in their
columns this week We trust that you
may be willing to give it place in
your paper.
Very truly yours.
Mary +. Benedict
Associate treasurer of the Vermont
Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage.
/ Burlington, VT, Dec. ID, 1913.
"To the Editor of the Free Press:
The matter before the legislature with
regard to woman's suffrage is distinctly
serious consideration. The attitude
Of most thoughtful men seems to be
that Of trusting the decision to the
women. This means, of course, that
they believe women know better than
they do whether the exercise of the suf-
frage for women will be for the greater
good or the greater harm OF the ma
ton. 1t is only another proof of the
confidence which honorable American
men place in honorable American WON.
en-.
"Bnt as long as actual legislation in
the matter rests in the hands Of the
men should they not carefully ascer-
tain whether the majority Of the women
of Vermont--the majority honestly as.
certained want the ballot? 1t would
surely be most illogical to do other
wise.
"Is there not great danger that our
legislators may be listening only to two
groups of women in this matter-to the
young and inexperienced or TO single
women whose circumstances have placed
them in position where they see and
understand the political evils OF our
time, but on the other hand have kept
them in total ignorance of what the de-
mands of the home must be on the moth
er and home maker Of the average WELL
to-do family of vermontf
"The world is not made up of mil
lionaires and Sums though many news
papers seem to be trying to make us |
believe it is. The majority of men and
women who are giving the United States |
its future population are decent, self
respecting. fairly and often highly edu-
Gated people Of small means. In these |
families the wife and mother is often /
in many cases always without any paid !
help.
eve must remember that more than |
half our population in the United States
is in small towns and villages-not in
the large cities--and that in almost all
the towns and villages in Vermont it
is impossible for any except perhaps
one or two rich families. who import
them at great expense) to secure any
domestic help whatever, except for
school girl now and then whose SER
vices can be had occasionally for an
hour or two day. The wife and moth
err finds herself obliged to do all the
work of the house herself, to cook for
The family and often wash, as well. to
to keep delinquent tradespeople and ar
tisans up to their promises, to bear the
to care for them when they
IRE i'll and for their father when he is
Il or tired.
"She will if she is woman of high
principles 1.-THE only kind-please notice
that can be expected to purify poll
icsl guide her children, help develop
heir minds and souls as well as their
,odies. watch over and discipline them.
vhen necessary, and be ready in their
outhful troubles (which are often great
res) to soothe and sympathize. Mod
rn appliances to make labor less in
household increase the number of
Kings on which woman has constant
' to keep her hand if order and peace Il
re to be the outcome instead of chaos.
"The problem: How TO keep appoint
rents promptly amid the constant inter-
options which surround the modern con-
cientious producer of future genera
ions is one the solving of which is
nough to cause great strain mentally y
nd physically. And will men be so s.
neconomic. if not cruel. as to add to (;
II this the burden Of the ballot?
II wish 10 call attention to two in -
tances II could mention othersl of the :
pinions OF women after experience Of
he ballot: lci
"First.-A woman of high principle.
nd of great strength Of character, who a.
as voted in Colorado for 20 years, told :"
ie that her experience has resulted in
conviction that more harm than good "A
ines from women voting in Colorado.
he saws she is convinced that il is IT
npossible for women TO vote inteili-
entity unless they mingle with the peo-
e in the same way men do. and that 4
ordinary circumstances. such course "A
ould rule out the possibility Of fam p,
' life. Both she and her husband be-
eve that general suffrage for women
Guild be injurious 10 the nation. m
-Second-Mrs. Goddard. a prominent
oman in Colorado. who at first was
le of the strongest supporters Of wom- Z