El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-07-17
BRYAN IN FAVOR
OF SUFFRAGE, BUT
CHIEF IS SILENT
Secretary of State Advocates
Measure Which Wilson
Has Dodged.

Washington. D. c. July Nv oman
suffrage is proper, just and equitable,
In the opinion Of secretary OF state
W. J. Bryan. Though president Wilson
has consistently lodged expression OF
opinion on suffrage when asked BY
feminine delegations 10 work for a
constitutional amendment. secretary
Bryan Thursday night came out IN
equivOcally in favor OF votes for wom-
en- He said he would ask no political
right for himself which he was not
wiling to grant his wife. Moreover,
said Bryan, ne intended TO support the
proposed state constitutional amend
ment extending franchise to women TO
be voted on in Nebraska IN November.
Women will not fan society in this
emergency, said Bryan He declared
women have always proved themselves
equal to every responsibility imposed
upon them. He said a woman has a
light to a voice in holding the environ
lent for her children.
The statement in part follows:
The voters Of Nebraska. will at the
election next November adopt or reject
a proposed amendment extending SUI
rage to women on equal terms with
r men. AS a citizen OF that state it will
be my duty to participate in the de-
Hision to be rendered at the polls. I
hall support the amendment
Burden Of PROOF on Antis.
AS man and woman are cotenants
Of the earth and must work out their
destiny together, the presumption is
on the side of equality Of treatment
in all that pertains 70 their joint life
and its opportunities The burden Of
proof is on those VINO claim for one
advantage over the oJner in determin-
ing the conditions under which both
shall live. This clam has not been
established in the matter Of suffrage.
1T is urged by some that Woman's
life is already full or cara and that
the addition Of suffrage would either
overburden her or turn her attention
he Ant Of he
answer made TO this IS that the eXer-
else Of the franchise might result in
change Of thought and occupation that
would relieve the monotony Of wOman's
work and give restful variety to her
activities.
Many well meaning men and wom-
en- affirm that suffrage would work a
harm to woman by IessenlnE the re-
spect in which she is held This argu-
ment would have more weight had II
not been employed against every
proposition advanced for the enlarge
ment Of wOman's sphere
No Agitation to Revoke Suffrage.
And are not the second and third
objections above stated refuted, to
some extent at least by the fact that
in the states which nave adopted Wo-
mans suffrage (and IN the other ma
tons that have adO3Jed) there is no
agitation for a return to the system
under which man has monopoly Of
the right TO vote. Is il not fair to as
correct the mistake if wOman's suf-
frage had really fafsed to give salts
faction TO the people where 1t has been
tried2
'.As for myself I am not in doubt
as to my duty. Without minimizing
other arguments advanced in support
Of the extending of suffrage to woman,
/ place the emphasis upon the mothers
rights TO a voice in molding the en-
vironment which shall surround her
chldren-an environment which Oper-
Rtes powerfully in determining whether
her offspring will crown her latter
years with joy or bring down her gray
hairs in sorrow to the grave
Burden Is Upon Mother.
THE Creator has placed upon the
mother a burden which she could not
shift If she so desired and he hasg wen
her the disposition to bear it. Her life
trembles in the balance at the child's
birth; her active years are given TO
The care and nurture Of her child; her
nerve force and vital energy are ex-
pended in their behalf When one con-
siders the cost to parents, especially
TO the mother. Of raising q child, it
seems impossible that anyone would
attempt to lead q child astray or rob
parents Of the priceless reward to
which they are entitled and yet there
are in every aye-ln every
cou1munity-thOse who are inhuman
enough TO deliberately lie in wait TO
make a wreckage Of the lives Of young
men and young women am not will {
ing to stay the mothers hand II she
thinks that by the use Of suffrage she |
can safeguard the welfare OF those !
who are dearer to her than her own
life.
s'The mother can Justly claim the
right to employ every weapon which {