Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-17
BRYAN IS NOW IN
SUFFRAGE RANKS
Wants Same Political Privileges
for His Wife as He
Has Himself.

latt night, declared himself for wo-
man suffrage.
He said he would ask no political
right for himself that he was not will
ing to grant his wife, and he announc-
ed his intention of supporting the pro-
posed state constitutional amendment
extending the franchise to women. to
be voted upon in Nebraska next No
vember.
Woman, Mr.. Bryan said, had proved
herself equal to every responsibility
imposed upon her, and would not fail
society in this emergency. Above all
other arguments in favor of giving her
the ballot he placed the right of the
mother to voice in the molding of the
environment of her children.
The mother" the secretary said,
"can justly claim the right to employ
fective for the protection of those
whose interests she guards, and the
ballot will put within her reach all of
the instrumentalities of government.
including the police power"
THE voters of Nebraska" the state
ment says, will at the election next
November adopt or reject a proposed
amendment extending suffrage to wo-
men on equal terms with men. l shall
support the amendment. / shall ask
no political rights for myself that
am not willing to grant to my wife.
1.-The first objection 1 remember 20
have heard was that as women cannot
hear arms she should not have a voice
-, i-Af
to war or in enacting laws that might
require an army for their enforce
ment.
This argument is seldom offered
now for the reason that as civilization
advances laws are obayed because
they are an expression of the public
opinion, not merely because they have
powder and lead behind them.
Second. 1t is urged by some that
woman's life is already full of care
and that the addition of suffrage
would either overburden her or turn
her attention away from the duties OF
the home.
"The answer made to this is that
the exercise of the franchise might re-
suit in a change of thought and occu-
patton that would relieve the monot-
ony of woman's work and give restful
variety to her activities
Third. Many well meaning men
and women affirm that suffrage would
work a harm to woman Dy lessening
the respect in which she is held.
''This argument would have more
weight had it not been employed
against every proposition advanced in
favor of the enlargement of woman's
sphere. This objection was once rails
ed in the higher education, but it is
no longer heard. The same objection
was offered each time the door has
opened, and woman, instead of suffer
ing degradation, has risen.
IF one were in doubt as to which
side Of the controversy to take, he
would be justified in giving weight to
the fact that organization and enthu-
siasm are on the side of those who
favor woman's suffrage. Organization
is an evidence of earnestness as we'll
as of a comprehension of the subject.
"As for myself, / am not in doubt
as to my duty. 1 desire to present
the argument to which / give the
greatest weight. Without minimizing
other arguments advanced in support
of the extending of suffrage to woman,
1 place the emphasis upon the moth
er's right to voice in molding the en-
vironment, which shall surround her
children-an environment which oper-
ates powerfully in determining wheth-
er her offspring will crown her latter
years with joy or bring down her
gray hairs in sorrow to the grave"
when one considers the cost to par
ents, especially to the mother, of rear
ing a child, it seems impossible that
any one would attempt to lead child
astray or rob its parents of the price
less reward to which they are entitled;
and yet there are in every generation
aye, in every COMMUNICATIONS who
are inhuman enough to deliberately
lie in wait to make wreckage of the
lives of young men and young wo-
men.
"They lay snares for them, they set
traps for them, and the men who ply
this CHASTITY trade for gain are allowed
to use the ballot to advance their pc
cuniary interests.
81 am not willing to stay the moth
er's hand if she thinks that by the use
of suffrage she can safeguard the well
fare of those who are dearer to her
than her own life.
Politics will not suffer by woman's
entrance into it. If the political world
has grown more pure in spite of the
evil influences that have operated to
debase it, it will not be polluted by the
presence and participation of woman.
Neither should we doubt that wo
man can be trusted with the ballot.
She has proved herself equal to every
responsibility imposed upon her; she
will not fail society in this emergency.
Let her vote, and may that discern
ment which has throughout the ages
ever enabled her to quickly grasp
great truths-made her the last at the
cross and the first at the sepulcher-
so direct her in the discharge of her