Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-31
ConGEcted BY
MIS- MARJORIE DORIAN.
Fer the Nebraska Association OPP
posCd 20 Woman Suffrage.
Reasons for Opposing
Suffrage Canvass

HNA1A1 COSOO SSOh WY
The following letter was received today
AT the headquarters ot the Nebraska As
ISOLATION opposed t. Woman suffrage:
OMAHA. OFT 30 Miss Marjorie Der
man. Leader Ar,-Sutfrage Movement.
Owara.-Dcar Madam: ! !nClosc YOU tho
following as some Of tho reasons why |
personally am opposed to womsn's sur-
tragc. You may use this in any way you
see TT. rR. W. q. HENRY.
Some Of the reasons why l am opposed
to womans suffra2e:
I. Voting is a duty imposed upon those
who are responsible for civil government.
Women have duties euough and ubliga-
tons sufficient to occupy all of their
highest and best energies. without having
this burden thrown upon them
>. Those who ere charged with the
duties Of civl government must needs
have back Of them the physical force
necessary 10 carry into effect any cdicts
which they may decide are best for
those whom they govern, il such edicts
are to be effective. And woman's vote
j docs not carry with 1t the needed force.
8. From - to 10 per cent OF the male
voters do not now perform those sacred
duties whcr the opportunity offers. ami
it is not likely that if tho women were
voting their percentage of stay-at-homcs
would be any better. Therefore We would
be but piling w the vote without imprOv-
= ing its quality.
! 1. In every instance where large tests
| have been made among the women them
! selves the vote of the women always has
been an Overwhelming vote against wo-
mans suffrage. And l am not willing to
! force a burden upon them which they do
! not want, nor does It seem fair that the
men should force this burden upon them
.. In Colorado, California and other
states where it has been tried many of
the best women have now repudiated it
as a snare and a delunion. some going
SO far as to say they have seen it do far
more harm than good.
| 6. No instance has been shown where
the city or the state has been made bet
ter by the vote of tho women. but it does
increase the expense, the effort and the
labor which might we'll be used for more
needful things.
Z. If the burden be placed upon women,
then they can only discharge that obi
gat,on by making the most efficient use
words, If they accept the responsibility
they are in all honor bound to make the
largest possible use Of It in the interest
of the home the city, the state and the
nation. This of course will mean
First-Always keeping thoroughly in
formed as to the best measures and men
to support. and the ones to turn down in
city, state and nation.
casting their ballots in harmony with the
known facts. This will bring them many
times into conflict with their husbands
where it has already made serious dis
| cord in the home.
Third-It win mean using time. influ-
cnce and energy TO get their friends and
neighbors to see the questions as they
see them and help to get them to the
polls to vote as they do.
Fourth-They must be prepared to lay
down their home and family or other du-
ties to help manage the campaign. which
they ar" now so much interested in, for
you may he just the one your friend will
tel youD to bring success to the men or
measures advocated.
| Fifth-Thcy must he ready and willing
to lay aside all other duties and run
for office, for your friend will again
tell YOU it is a plain duty) you are the
only one who can really win and put into
practical effect the important measures
which you have chemponed.
SiXth-Thcy must be ready and willing
to serve on juries or ia any other public
capacity where they may be needed.
While that is not now a part of the law.
it must necessarily follow as a logical
sequence, TO their public duties, il they
are TO do all in their power to make their
votes effective.
s. II there is any place in
civic affairs whore We need tho right
kind of men to manage well, and with
high ideals, it is in Our public schools.
In our state the women have had
chance for many years to vote for the
school board, and vet what have tho
women done in omaha in this regard?
Is not the indifference here a proof that
the women dc not really want the ballot?
Does not the small vote, the inconse-
qucntal vote IN TINS very important
place show conclusively that all this
agitation for the ballot is only a sharl
Put forth by the few
=. 1t belittles the duties of
WIFE mother and homemaker and by a
false standard oxalts the women who
forcRo these natural. useful and Cod
given tasks for tho more snowy and less
useful labors of the public woman.
10. And, finally. have never
Yet been able to reconcile the plea for
woman suffrage with the clear teachings
! Of the holy scriptures. But / understand
the leaders Of suffrage DO not lay much
/ stress upon this book.
DIR. w. o, HENRY,