The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-11-21
Miss O'Hair of Indianapolis
Says Opposition to Fran
chise Based on Conditions
in Past.
EXPLAINS WAGE NEED
Speaker Shows High Re-
quirements Placed on In
structOrs Which Demand
Study and Expense.

"All the arguments against the en-
franchisement of women are based on
conditions that no longer exist de-
clared Miss Belle O'Hair, of lndianap-
oils, teacher and suffragist Of nation
al reputation in an address before the
city federation of teachers last even
ing in the auditorium Of the high
school.
Miss O'Har preceded her talk on the
benefits and necessity of organization
on the part of the instructors in the
public schools, with a convincing argu-
ment for woman's suffrage, which, she
stated was directly related to the
question of concerted action among
the teachers of the public schools of
the state and country, since the ma
jority of the latter were women and
the propaganda they waged for the
betterment of social and economic con-
ditions among the grade teachers es-
pecially, was only to be effected
through legislation.
Base Opposition on Past.
The time is as extinct as the dOdo
when woman's part in the scheme of
life is her biological function in the
bearing of children" said the speaker,
'or in the purely domestic occupation
of their care"
While Miss O'Hair did not decry the
part of the woman in the conduct of
the home, she emphasized the fact that
the whole social system had been so
revolutiOnized by the inventions Of
science, and the natural evolution that
followed their adoption by the social
body. particularly within the past
fifty years, that woman no longer oc-
rupies the position she did formerly
through the action of these changed
conditions.
Miss O'Hair took up all the time
worn objections to woman's enfran-
chisement-her lack of supposed in
telligence in dealing with public ques-
tions through the vote. her neglect of
the home through the exercise of this
privilege. her loss of feminity through
an interest in politics, her alleged rep
resentation by the men Of her house
hold, and the various others generally
adduced-and disposed of them fore
ibly and logically.
Votes Mean Home Life.
THE whole industrial system would
collapse" stated Miss OHair, ''if
women should go back to the condit-
ions of half century ago. This
change is not an evolution. it is a
ment of women would result. often. in
sending them back to their homes,
since they could settle social questions,
which they now have to go out and
coax men to remedy, by the simple
process of voting.
Referring to the necessity of fedora
tiOn among the grade teachers OF the
public schools. a movement which is
very general all over the country, Miss
O'Hair said
"rhe purpose of the teachers fedora
tiOn is not to antagoniZe the heads OF
the school system, but to put the pro-
fessiOn on a more dignified financial
basis
"Teachers who are not competent to
organize are not fit to teach.
Because much of the work we have
done which is best known to the pub
lie Is the agitation for better salaries,
said Miss O'Hair many persons
think we are organized for the mere
purpose of raising our wages.
This is not the case. Teachers
cannot live on ideals alone, however.
and from the point of humbly receiv-
ing any salary that was offered. the
profession has now come to see the
necessity and the logic of the teacher,
nor the public, fixing the salary.
with the high cost of living.
teachers salaries have either remained
stationary or have gone down. while
the price of everything has advanced.
"On the other hand the public de
mands constantly increased profile
1ency. The teacher nowadays must
net the part OF mental and moral
sponsor for 10000. 900 school children,
must assume entire responsibility for
their development along every line.
At the close of the address, Miss
Whitacre, president OF the city fedora
ton, invited all those present to meet
Miss O'IIair.
Miss Mildred Schalk preceded the
address with a piano solo.