The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-27
PEOPLES FORUM
The Rights of Women.

Editor of The Richmond Virgnan:
Sir.--In your editorial People and Street
Cars you made the statement that since the
women have asked for the ballot one OBJ
serve at the hour Of p. NJ. the ladies of Rich
mond crowding the aisles and falling over each
other the car lurches from side TO side having
seats offered them by gentlemen as formerly.
Since when have the ranks of the suffrafists
increased to include the 6 p NJ. crowds of
the street cars?
II must be very gratifying to the suffraeists
who have been accused of having such small
number to that you presume upon so great
a following.
But If all these women be not suffragists. why
should the innocent ones especially the pale.
tired-Iooking working girls be made scapegoats
by the Of hoastfulIy chivalrous instincts?
Mr.. Editor, you sure that such condition
YOU describe does not antedate the equal
suffrage movement here?
The cause for such state Of affairs has been
in the making since the Civil war, and If its
aecrung result happened not to be noted until
Just now II is merely a coincidence.
Womans rghtful demand for political equality
has had nothing to do with the cause, but has
probably served to give emphasis to it by
causing people to sit up and take notice of what
has been evolving. while they have been asleep
in the watch-tower of events.
Woman alone who knows the cost of human
life is the instructive conservator of life, and
when she take place side by side with
man in governmental affairs wars will he very
rarely If ever fought. But the case has ever
been when have too hastily decided 10 set
tied their disputes with the sword, after the
inevitable carnage destruction and devastation
woman has followed in the wake clearing up
the wreckage and helping to rebuild the waste
places
Thus. after the dreadful Civil war, the South
woman found herself suddenly thrust from
the pedestal. where she had been adored
queen by chivarous manhood and down into q
world of stern realities where individual power
put to It's severest test in the daily strpg ge
for existence
For some years these fair women were not
forced beyond the confines of the home
plantation to secure work but after "the chase
men began to settle down and divert their
energies to the more quiet pursuits of CONNIE cree
and industry.
Unlocking the storehouses Of natures raw
materials and latent motor forces men soon
found that life's necessities and comforts could
be produced and put upon the market more
cheapy than when made in the home so It was
not long before great factories sprung mp and
1t was to them women had tn fer the work
which had been taken from their homes. A lit
tie later great corporations and monopolies were
formed: thus, be said to have built an
arena In which there Is to be the daily fight for
human existence. lie has entered this arena
armed with superior physical strength buttressed
by the ballot. pitting himself against woman
whom he styles the weaker sex, denying to her
the one available supplement towards balancing
forces In the unequal struggle.
Is 1t not reasonable to suppose that so fight
ing. not only for herself but oftentimes for de-
pendents upon her there should he engendered
spirit of independence which reacts psycho-
logically upon her erstwhile chivalrous pro-
tector?
Also is 1t not a logical sequence-the matter
of accepting without very effusve thanks the car
seat OF gentleman when she is denied so often
the fundamental of justice-equal pay for equal
work?
The world is In a period of transition Mr.
Editor.
Its great and deep problems are pressing for
solution. Think long and well upon them then
let us have your unbiased. UMPIRE JUDGED opin-
ions. which your face pen can so Interestingly
express.
A. w r.
Richmond. Va March 26th