The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-02-15
By ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.
There is a good deal of insincere
talk.
Among the men.
To the effect that when the women
want the franchise they can get it
Everybody with the most ordinary
common sense knows that this is not
true.
That is, every woman of average,
normal mentality.
Such handouts from the men only
cause a sardonic grin from the former.
Why, if this is true. have the wom-
en- had TO fight inch by inch for every
concession" from the men.
For whatever civic right the women
have achieved has been patronizingly
thrown to them as concession"
Why?
Because men in the aggregate have
nothing but the sex feeling for wom-
en-.
They don't want tc give EN- civic
rights.
But why should the women be in
the position of HAVING to be given some
thing that is their right as human
beings?
AS part of organized society?
The whole thing, when reduced to
the last ditch, is anomalous.
And is so recognized by the mascu-
line element of the social fabric
But they set themselves stubbornly,
willfully, against the equal civic right
of woman.
And when the latter has it branded
into her consciousness that this is
true, she will combine against it.
The writer has frequently animal
verified upon the benefits of combina-
ton and continues to do so,
Only in union" is there strength. "
If women could have the vote any
time they wanted it, why did the men
defeat the constitutional amendment
in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin?
The women worked for it tooth
and toenail," to use a homely express
sion, in all three of the states.
But were defeated.
No uncertainty existed as to the fact
that the women wanted it.
But the men voted overwhelmingly
against it.
this hypocritical cry Of 1.-The women
can have it when they want it."
At least the men might be sincere.
And say-"they won't get it If We
can help it."
That's their real attitude.
For when the women do get the
universal franchise in this country
then there will be that sex legislation
against which men will rebel.
A phase of this is illustrated in the
fight against the eight hour law which
was defeated in the Legislature yester-
day.
The manufacturers, the business
men and wage-payers were out in
: force to defeat the bill
The bill, as amended, making a nine
hour day, with q maximum number OF
= hours a week in which women should
be employed, forty-eight, was support
ed by the bills originator, Representa-
tive Keegan.
. But when ten hours, with nifty -foul
+ week maximum. was introduced, he
tried to kill the bill, as stated in the
news dispatches, and when the defea,
of the purpose Of his bill was assured
he resigned.
Keegan ia one Of the best friends
OF labor as it affects women and chill
dren this state has ever had.
His child labor law in it's origina
p conception and draft, passed in al
emasculated form by the last legisla
ture, and repudiated by Keegan upor
it's passage-since it was amended a:
: 10 defeat it's object-was an excellen
= measure.
II Keegan, it is evident, regards his in
tegrfty as challenged and resigns hi
seat in the legislature.
! Here is an honest legislator.
@ credit to his commonwealth.
And one the state can i'll afford tt
. lose.