The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-17

bring down her gray hairs in sorrow
The creator has placed upon the
mother a burden which she could not
shift if she so desired and He has CIV
en- her the disposition to bear IT., her
life trembles in the balance at the
child's birth; her active years are CIV
en- to the care and nurture of her child
rem: her nerve force and vital energy
are expanded in their behalf; her eN-
haustless love Is poured out upon theHl.
Because the wealth of her existence Is
bestowed upon them, they are a part o.
her very being-'where your treasure is
there will your hear be also Wheh
one considers the cost Of parents, es-
p~ecially to the mother, of raising a
child, it seems impossible that anyone
would attempt to lead a child astray or
rob it's parents of the priceless regard
to which they are entitled; and yet
there are In every generatlon-aye ia
every COMMUNICATIONS who are IN
human enough to deliberately lie In
wait to maxi a. wreckage of the lives
of young men and young women. Iney
lay snares for them; they set traps LOT
them; and the men who ply TINS ShaSt-
~ trade for gain are allowed TO use Inc
ballot to advance their p~ecuniary in
t~erests. 1 am not willing to stay the
mothers hand If she thinks that by the
use of suffrage she can safeguard the
welfare of those who are dearer TO her
than her own life.
"The mother can justly claim the
right to employ every weapon which
can be made effectivesfor the protectlon
of those whose interests she guards,
and the ballot will put within her
reach all the instrumentalities of gov
eminent, including the police power. II
she Is a widow, there is no one VINO IS
in a position to speak for her IN this
matter of supreme Importance; IL her
husband is living she can supplement-
his influence if they agree as to what
is best for those under their joint care;
If they do not agree, who Will say that
only the father should be consulted!
For q time l was impressed by the
suggestion that the question should be
left to the women to decide-a majority
to determine whether the FRANCHISE
should be extended to woman; but l
find myself less and less disposed to
endorse his test. Samuel johnson
coined an epigram which is in point
here, namely that nc mans conscience
can tell him the right of another mani
Responsibility for the child's welfare
rests primarily upon the parent; the
parent receives in largest measure the
blessings that flow from the ch1ldS
life. if tina life is nObly employed, ana
severest force If the child's life is mis-
spent. Why should any mother, there
fore, be denied the use of the franchise
to guide the welfare of her child mere
ly because another may not view her
duty in the same light? .
"Politics will not suffer by womans,
entrance into it. If the political world
has grown more pure In spite OF the
evil Influences tina have operated to
debase it. it will not be polluted by the
presence and participation of woman.
Neither should we doubt that woman
can be trusted with the ballot. She
has proven herself equal to every re-
sponsibility imposed upon her; she will
not fail society In this emergency. Let
her vote and may that discernment
which has, throughout the9ages. ever
enabled her to quickly grasp great
truths-made her the last at he cross
| and the first at the selpulcre-so direct
her in the discharge of her political
duties as to d new glories to her and
through her still further bless society"