The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
MRS. JACOBS SAYS
COMMENTED WOMAN
MEANS NO PROGRESS
Suffrage Leader Replies to
Recent Editorial in Age
Herald on Certain Fea-
lures Suffrage Issue

Following the cue of Mrs. Oscar R.
Hundley, local chairman, Mrs. solon Ja-
cobs, state chairman of the equal suf-
frage organization, has written The Age
Herald in regard to a recent editorial.
s'The Contented Woman" in which edi-
torial it was contended that if any
woman is contented, she should not be
pitied.
Mrs. Jacobs, it is to be noted, refers
more specifically to the "unawakenedl
woman than to the 'contented woman"
She states, in course of her introduce
ton that should the editorial writer of
The Age Herald attend all the meetings
of the suffragists, he would soon learn
that the movement 'is fundamentally al
truistic." She writes as follows:
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
1t is a great pity that the editorial
writer of The Age-Herald was not pres
ent when the discussion of the Con
tented Woman" took place. It is
greater pity that he is not present at
all of the meetings of the Birmingham
EQUAL Suffrage association, for then he
would have a clearer insight into the
real meaning of the movement. He
would know it to be fundamentally al
truistc.
There are men and women, too, who
have failed to take the movement seri-
ously, but even they do not assert any
longer that it is composed of unhappy
married women and disgruntled old
maids" The discomfort distinguishing
suffragists is not so much with their own
individual conditions, but with the state
of affairs which still permits the ex-
pIoitation of women and children; and an
Overwhelming desire to help relieve such
conditions.
Suffragists everywhere believe their
claims are based not alone on justice but
also on expediency. Nowadays the JUS
tice plea is scarcely denied, but occasion
ally one still meets with the argument
that 1t is either not expedient or not i'm
portant that women have the ballot. The
editor would offer us the soporifc that
it is unwise, inexpedient that women or
<men be aroused to discomfort with ex-
listing injustice. How to reconcile the be-
lief that a thing is both just and right.
and still not expedient and important, is
left to those opposing the equal suffrage
movement to disclose.
who, while not opposed, is still indif-
ferent, unaroused to the Importance of
not only having the ballot but of correctly
using it, is most serious obstacle.
Among other things suffragists uniform
ly stand against are white slavery and
child labor. They go further for they
believe conditions in regard to both evils
will be greatly helped when women may
directly cast a protest at the polls against
the inefficient or non-existent laws con-
1cerning both. They would have the pub
sic conscience awakened, that slothful
conscience which says 'let well enough
alone, we can do nothing and remain con-
fent'--yea, even the conscience of the
comfortable, protected woman. she who
personally, is not hurt by either child
; labor or white slavery.
The suffragist knows both exist in vary
lug degree everywhere, and she knows
nat men have grappled with these two
nd many, many other serious problems:
| out the time has come when they should
Eidemand that the women lend direct as
EisIstence.
4 mo great progress in the worlds history
1has been made without a measure of dis
Hcontent.
What of the American Revolution?
kN5ere those patriots contented under
British taxation?
~ Suppose all of us, suffragsts and non
~suffragists alike, were wholly content
with Birmingham today? Where would
be our Chamber of Commerce, dissatis-
fled that we have not more diversified in
dustries; that freight rate discrimination
is shown, that we do not possess a big
auditorium? They not only see these
defects, but point the way toward re-
lief
Il Where would be our Juvenile court.
81 Iercy Home, Boys Industrial school and
hundreds of helpful institutions if all the
Iomen had been content to remain quies-
cent?
The believer in woman suffrage actual
1y thinks these to be the outgrowth of
wholesome discontent
She knows. too. that these are agencies
Ealing with effects, not causes and that
Rcx of the need of them stand econom-
Iconditions, double standard of morals,
kcscial injustice so deeprooted that it takes
ritators'' to say that while these institu-
rs are entirely and absolutely neces-
Try, they are not basic. They do not
{Tirike at the root.
When Margaret Fuller went first to the
boston Public library and asked for
book from the shelves she was denounced