The Washington herald., 1914-05-24

country realize that they have much
more than equal rights with men, that
the latter have extended special privi-
leges to the former in recognition Of their
unique position as the present and future
mothers of the race.
Present System Upheld.
II is the status Of women in America
under our existing system of privileges
to them that more than anything else
has made this country what II Is, ana
commanded for the American woman the
respect and admiration of all nations.
II has developed the civilizing forces,
sanely divided both duties and functions
in government between man and woman
in accordance with experience and
science. The father, the breadwinner.
who cares for and supports his family as
part of his duty. elects the officers. who
are to govern the State, leaving to citi-
zens the performance of the duties of
private life. The mother, bearing the
children, nursing them. and bringing
them up in the rays that lead to the
desirable citizenship of the future. as
sumes the responsibility, not merely of
electing, but of governing and training,
from infancy to manhood. every repre-
sentative of the people. Upon mothers
rests the whole burden Of the future o.
America. more than upon the legislatures
that meet In Washington, or any Of the
State capitals.
The function of government which
women already have, the government of
the home, is the most important and far
reaching factor in our democracy. Here,
character, ideals. and honesty in public
officials is altogether under woman's
control. That woman has no mere mas
tered her function in home government
than man has his in State government, Is
evidenced on every hand by the constant
reiteration by educators, courts. reform
ers, and crimnologists that most of our
defective and criminal problems are the
result Of inadequate or careless home
training. Is il right or just to thrust
upon these mothers. already overburden-
ed with direct responsibility for the con-
duct of our future legislature, the 'addi-
uonal duty of helping to elect our present
representatives? Eight-tenths of these
mothers have no servants. and the caro-
OF the entire family devolves upon them.
To thrust them into politics is to deprive
the child Of its dearest heritage, and to
rob the home Of its autonomy-which Is
the safeguard Of our civilization.
Want a Full Share.
The agitation which the women suffra-
gists promote means that they want
full share in civil government. They
want to bring women out to caucuses
conventions, and political meetings, and
obtain legislation quite different from
that which theiT husbands and their
brothers desire. The contest of politics
is what the name campaign" implies-a
strenuous struggle. 1t is the business of
political committees to influence voters,
to bring them out to meetings, to use
every lawful means to procure their
votes Is ii wise to break in upon the
family, to take the mother away from
her children, to strive to influence her to
oppose her husband or her sons, and vote
against them? Is this not engendering
sex antagonism? Does it promote the
peace of families, or the welfare Of the
public composed of those families? The
family is the most vital unit OF society,
and 1t is fully represented by manhood
suffrage. OF the 3,A7.0oo women who
are. or in a year will be. Of voting age,
Il, $4,000 are married, 3,165. 900 are widows,
and 10000 divorced, making a total Of
20. $4,000 who either are or will be the
mothers of the next generation. OF the
!, SOS 900 single women of voting age, over
s43,oo are becoming married yearly. II
Is a significant fact that under manhood
the proportion of voters to the |
population over tweaty-one 10 approx /: