Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-17
BRYAN IN FAVOR OF
SUFFRAGE FOR
WOMEN
Continued from First Pago.>

ly advanced, have proven impotent to
retard woman's progress. May not the |
fears sincerely entertained by the op-
ponents of woman suffrage be found to |
be as groundless as those that once
forced the widow in eastern India to !
ascend the funeral pyre or as those
that exclude Mohammedan women from
the social benefits and responsibilities
which the women Of the Christian
world shares?
And are not the second and third
objections above stated refuted, to
some extent at least by the fact that
in the states which have adopted wom-
ans suffrage (and in the other nations
that have adopted) there is no agita-
ton for a return to the system under
which man has q monopoly of the
right to vote. Is 1t not fair to assume
that an effort would be made to correct
the mistake If woman's suffrage had
! really failed to give satisfaction to
the people where 1t has been tried?
Organization and Enthusiasm.
IF one were in doubt as to which
side of the controversy to take he
would be justified in giving weight to
the fact that organization and enthu-
favor woman's suffrage Organization
is an evidence of earnestness, as we'll
as of comprehension of the suffrage
People do not associate themselves to-
| gether to secure a given end until they
have reached a definite conclusion in
regard to It's desirability and feel that
its accomplishment is worth the effort
for which it calls. 1t is quite evident
that those who disinterestedly desire
woman suffrage are willing to make
greater sacrifices to secure 1t, than
those who dlsinterestedly oppose wom-
an suffrage are willing to make to
prevent 1t.
"As for myself I am not in doubt as
to my duty. 1t is not my purpose to
discuss the subject with elaboration
at this time, but 1 desire to present the
argument to which I give the greatest
weight. without minimizing other ar
guments advanced in support of the
extending of suffrage to woman,
place the emphasis upon the mothers
right to a voice in moulding the en-
vironment which shall surround her
children,-an environment which oper
ates powerfully in determining wheth-
err her offspring will crown her later
years with joy or bring down her gray
hairs in sorrow to the grave
The Creator has placed upon the
mother burden which she could not
shift If she so desired and He has
given her the disposition to bear 1t.
Her life trcmbles in the balance at the
child's birth; her active years are
| given to the care and nurture of her
children; her nerve force and vital en-
ergy are expended in their behalf; her
eXhaustless love is poured out upon
them. Because the wealth of her ex-
istence Is bestowed upon Them they are
a part of her very being-'where your
treasure is, there Will your heart be
also When one considers the cost to
\ parents, especially to the mother, of
raising child, it seems impossible that
anyone would attempt TO lead a child
astray or rob Its parents of the price
less reward to which they are entitled;
and yet there are in every generation
aye, in every COMMUNICATIVE who
are inhuman enough to deliberately lie
in wait to make wreckage 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 ghast-
ly trad, for gain are allowed to use
the ballot to advance their pecuniary
interests. I am not willing to stay the
mothers hand if she thinks that by
the use of suffrage she can safeguard
the welfare of those who are dearer to
her than her own life.
The Mothers Just Right.
THE mother can justly claim the
right to employ every weapon which
can be made effective for the protec-
ton of those whose interests she
guards, and the ballot will put within
her reach all the instrumentalities of
government, including the police power,
If she is a widow, there is no one who
is in a position to speak for her in this
matter of supreme importance; if her
husband Is living she can supplement
his influence If they agree as to what is
best for those under their joint care;
If they do not agree, who will say that
only the father should be consulted?
For a time I was impressed by the
suggestion that the question should be
left to the women to decide-a ma
jority to determine whether the fran
chise should be extended to woman;
but find myself less and less disposed
to indorse this test. Samuel Johnson
coined an epigram which Is in point
here, namely, that No mans conscience
can tell him the right OF another man
Responsibility for the childs welfare
rests primarily upon the parent; the
parent receives in largest measure the
blessings that flow from the childs
life, If that life is nobiy employed. and
upon the parent falls the blow with
severest force If the child's life is
misspent. Why should any mother
therefore. be denied the use of the
franchise to safeguard the welfare of
her child merely because another may
not view her duty in the same light3
Politics will not suffer by womans
entrance into 1t. II the political world
has grown more pure in spite of the
evil influences that have operated to