The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-23
Woman s Suffrage

Dr. James Cannon writes concerning woman's
suffrage in his editorial correspondence In a
recent number of the Christian Advocate.
Il referred in my letter last week to the
| Parade of the suffragettes in WASHINGTON on
March Sd, and expressed the opinion that the
scenes OF disorder that occasion could and
should have been prevented by the police The
conduct OF the spectators was In many places
such as Is usually characteristic of a mob which
feels itself to be free from individual RESPONSE
bity for unseemly and ungentlemany conduct
such conduct deserved not only rehuke, hut pun
ishment.
Spectacular Sufrag cites.
But while there Is excuse for the conduct
Of the mob, or for the failure of the police, there
were features connected with the parade which
deserve severe criticism, and which did not help
the suffragette cause with the thoughtful. The
parade seemed to be more of attempt to mag
nifty persons than principles The desire to be
known, to be noticed, to stand in the limelight.
was strikingy apparent.
Principles Notoriety
What great principle was exemplfed by the
hike of Gen Rosalie Jones? Was II an at
tempt to prove that women have sufficient ply
seal endurance to become soldiers. to march
in a campaign? If so, it a miserable fail
rre for a majority of those who started to walk
from New York to Albany fell by the roadside.
and on a very good road at that. What prin-
cjple exemplifed by hiking which could
not have been set forth by going the train as
Ia committee? But this would not have given
the notorety which these brave, COURAGEOUS
mixers hungered after The picture of Cen
Jones would not have been displayed In the
pers from one end of the land to the other
and hungry head-ners would not have called
for large type to chronicle every morning the
fact that with Spartan courage Gen. Jones
and her heroic band had actually walked fifteen
miles along peaceful, well-kept New York
State public road.
Then there Miss Inez Miholland who
with beautiful face and statuesque figure, rode
astride at the head of the column. And then
there those tableaux. acted by the most
beautiful and sharCly SuffragetteS htai
and in the fiimsiest gauze which the law would
allow. And the cold winds did not prevent the
exposure of the person. What was the of
the tableaux If tbs women In them could not
display their beauty of face and form? or
what value is beauty If it cannot be shown and
praised? How could the great principles of lib
erty and freedom be taught to the ignorant mass,
unless the beautiful faces and forms of these
women displayed under such circumstances
as to magnify their beauty to the limit? What
though the wind flung their gauzy garments
about without regard for decency, and their
bare feet were blue with cold and pneumonia
stared them in the face? All things must be
endured for the sake of the cause and--for no.
| toriety. for a headline a picture. or even a
mention IN the paper.
Doubtful Leadership.
with a fair and open mind this question,
obliged to say that the parade Of the
third Of March very strong testimony that
the time had not yet come for giving women the
ballot. i do not that 1t was conclusive
testimony against It, but 1t showed very clearly
that the movement Is not led by those who are
fred with the conviction Of the Justice of great
principle, and that 1t is not supported by the
great body of intelligent, thoughtful wives and
mothers OF the nation. There many very
bright, very sensible women who convinced
that 1t is not only wise but necessary that
men should be put on the same footing men
IN the matter of voting. The arguments they
bring forward worthy of the most careful
consideration, and II 1t shall appear that these
arguments outweigh the arguments against
mans suffrage, /. for one. shall not allow pre-
Jndice preconceived notions to prevent the
acceptance OF logical conclusion
Present Leadership
But the present leadership is not calcu-
lated to produce conviction. There too.
many leaders from among those who have never
done anything TO justify the acceptance Of their