Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-07-23
BRYAN IS FOR
WOMEN'S VOTE
viii Support Suffrage Movement
in Home State.
HAS PRAISE FOR MOTHERS
Secretary of State Contends They
Should Guide Offsprinqs' Future
HAS PRAISE FOR MOTHERS
Secretary of State Contends They
Should Guide offsprings' Future
Through BaIIot-says In
crates Are Given Votes.

Washington, July 18.-William Jen-
nings Bryan, secretary Of state, in
formal statement issued Thursday de-
clared himself for woman suffrage.
THE mother" the secretary said,
"can Justly claim the right to employ
every weapon which can be made eff
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
statement says, will at the election
next November adopt or reject a pro-
posed amendment extending suffrage
to women on equal terms with men.
] shall support the amendment. shall
ask no political rights for myself that
I am not willing to grant to my
wife.
"The first objection remember to
have heard was that as woman can
not bear arms she should not have
voice in deciding questions that might
lead to war or in enacting laws that
might require an army for their en-
forcement.
This argument is seldom offered
now for the reason that as ciViliza-
ton advances laws are obeyed be-
cause they are an expression of the
public opinion, not merely because
they have powder and lead behind
them.
Second. It 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
result in a change of thought and oc-
cupation that would relieve the mo-
nOtony 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 by lessening
the respect in which she is held.
As for myself, I am not in doubt
the argument to which I give the
greatest weight. Without minimiz-
ing other arguments advanced in sup
port Of the extending of suffrage to
woman, place the en- Dhasis upon the
mothers right to a voice in molding
the environment which shall surround
her children-an environment which
operates powerfully in determining
whether 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
parents, especially to the mother, of
raising a child, it seems impossible
that any one would attempt to lead a
child astray or rob its parents OF the
priceless reward to which they are en-
titled; and yet there are in every gen
eration-aye, in every community
those who are inhuman enough to de-
liberately lie in wait to make wreck
age of the lives of young men and
young women.
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 pecuniary interests.
Il am not willing to stay the moth
er's hand If she thinks that by the use
of suffrage she can safeguard the vel
fare of those who are dearer to her
than her own life"