The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-07-18
BRYAN FOR SUFFRAGE.

! y. . /
i BRYAN FOR SUFFRAGE.
4 Secretary of state Bryan, in for
nal istatement,is out for woman suf-
fragc. He says:
"The voters of Nebraska will, next
November. adopt or reject propos-
cd amendment extendingssufrrage to
women onsequal terms with men. As
q citizen ofSthat state, i shall sup.
hortltlie amendment. 81 shalt ask no
political rights for myself that l am
not willing TO grant to my wife.
"As man and woman are Gotten
ants of the earth and must work out
their destiny together, the presump-
ton is on the side of equity of treat
ment in all that pertains to their
Joint life and its opportunities, The
burden Of proof is on those who
claim for one an. advantage over the
other in determining tie conditions
under which both shall live. This
claim has not been established in the
matter of suffrage. On the contrary,
the objections raised to woman suf-
frage appear to me to be invalid,
while4the arguments advanced in,
.guppoftief tlisapreppsition are inSmy
|iudgmeht co1ivincing!a ~ w.
1.-The first objection that, as wo-
man cannot bear arms, she should
not have a voice in deciding ques-
lions that might lead to war, or in
|cnacting laws that might require an
army for their enforcement, is sell
dom offered now for thefreason that
rs sciyilizatfonA atiyances slaws agr
pbeyed bseapse they ar6Aan EXPIRES
Sion Of the public opinion, not mere
ly because they have power and lead
behind stllem. Weymay well9wonder
whether the peace mosementSw would
not have grown more rapidly had
woman ;:who, suffers more than man
from the result Of war, been consult
cd before hostilities began.
at 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 exercise of the franchise might
result In a change of thought and
occupation that would relieve the
monotony Of woman's work and give
restful variety to her activities. And
surely the home will not suffer, II the
mother, i the child'sinflrst hteacher,l
is able to intelligently discuss with
her family the science Of govern
ment and the art Of successfully adj
ministering it9sri ~ sihs s'tF u
Many well-meaningj men and wo-
men affirm that suffrage would work
uFharm to- woman ibyilessening the
respect in which. she is. held. This
argument would have more weight
had lit not been employed against tev-
cry proposition advanced in favor Of
the enlargement Of woman's sphere.
1t was once raised to tile higher edu-
cation Of woman, but no longer
Heard. The same objection was OIL
fered each time the door has opened
and woman, instead of suffering deg
radiation, has, risen.
''In the states which have adopted
woman suffrage (and in the other
nations that have adopted IT'D there
is no agitation fora return to the sys-
TEN under whiclsman has a monop-
oily Of the right to vote. Is it not
S:air to assume that an effort would
be made to correct the mistake II
swoman's suffrage had really failed to
give satisfaction where tried?
Il emphasize the mothers right
to a voice in moulding the environ
ment which shall surround sher chill
8iren. The mother. can justly claim
the right to employ every weapon
which can be made effective for the
projection of those whose interests
she guards, and the ballot will put
within her reach all the instrument
stalities of government, including the
police power. II she Is widow,
there Is no one who Is in a position to
speak for her in this matter Of su-
preme importance. II her husband Is
living she can supplement his influ.
Ience IL they agree as to what Is best
for those under their joint care; II
they don't agree, who will say thar
only the father should be consulted |?
For a time I was impressed by
the suggestion that the question
should be left to the woman to de-
cide-a majority to determine wheth-.
Ter the franchise should be extended
to woman, but i find myself less and
less disposed to endorse this test.
Samuel johnson coined an epigram
in point here. that NO mans con-
science can tell him the right Of an
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