New-York tribune., 1913-05-18

1tyE cncts Of the House Of Commons; argument
d4vH tative women annually descendng upon The
GtTf,-s capital Of the State Of New York, appealing
|~ST~>@ to legislative committee, huttonhong un-
willing legislators, holding public meetings Grating,
aitatlng pleading, al for The Cause the sacred cause
ii woman suffrage, has been generally accepted
as q new dcvclopmcn, brought forth by the twentieth
century
But this phase oi feminine activity IS not modern.
The men Of ancient Rome had TO face their aroused
y.ouanknd; who, dgitatng practically the same cause,
adopted identical methods, displayed similar persistence
and ,cnacy Of purpose and IN their day created equal
turmoil and disturbance.
The crisis was brought about at the beginning Of the
,hrd century through the efforts 10 abrogate the so-
called Orphan law which had been passed twenty years
before during the caused by HannlbaS invasion
and had attempted to curb the growing luxury Of
women "The about the Capitol says the MS
roran Livv "Was filled with crowds who favored OPP
posed the law Nor could the matrons be- kept home.
either by advice shame, not even by the express
lands Of their husbands but bcsct every street and
avenue IN the city, bcsccchng The men as they went
down 20 the Forum 20 suffer the women have their
iorucr rights % ornaments restored To them This
throng OF increased daily; for they arrived even
irom the country towns and village and they had IT
length the boldnc 10 come up To- the consuls prctors,
and magistrates 90 urge their request.
DESCRIPTIONS such as this would seem modern
- enough 70 grace the daily columns Of our news
papers The debate became most heated and speedily
shifted from the narrow question OF what the women
should 70 the real point a. suc,-the question Of
whether not the women had any night publicly IN
:crere with 70 urge legislation. How modern sound
thc argument O Cato the Censor that strong minded
man. whose ringing voice must find an echo in many a
prcscnday legislators breast when in referring to the
behavior OF the women, ne said:
at was not without painful emotions Of shame that
Just made my way into the Forum through a band
81 women Had not been restrained by respect for the
modcsty and dignity Of some individuals among them,
rather than Of the whole number, and been unwilling
that they should be seen rebukcd by Consul, should
not have reranod from saying 20 them, What sort Of
practice IS tins, running into public, besctting the
streets and addressing other women husbands Could
not each have made the request her husband at
homef Are your Establishments seducing in pub
hc than in private and with other women's husbands
than with your own Although matrons would let
their modesty coniino them within the limits Of their
own rights, it did not become You, even at home to
yoursevcs about any laws that might be passed
Or repealed here.
After relating now the older Romans had confined
Their women to their homes under the strict guidance
and surveillance OF their parents brothers, husbands
and then pointing 20 the weakness Of the husband as
,he primary cause OF the state Of affairs that time
existing the worthy Consul went on to say: