The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-04-18

late his destiny. And even in much
more improved state than the human
mind has ever yet reached, it is not in
nature that they who are thus dispOs-
ed of should meet with as fair play as
those who have vOice."-JOhn Stuart
Mill.
Ours is a representative government
founded on the consent of the govern
ed, excluding only children, because
they are immature; criminals, because
the ends of government are justice
which they should seek to hinder; in
sane and idiots, because all govern
ment is founded on reason, and they
arc without it. Women belong to none
of these classes; they are citizens,
mentally and morally competent, and
in really republican government they
should be represented by their votes.
Even if only one woman wishes to vote
that vote ought to be counted.
In these days of the higher educa-
ton of women, it cannot be argued
that women are not intelligent enough
to vote. Girls outnumber the boys in
the high schools all over the country.
The Report of the Commissioners of
Education for 1908 showed that more
women than men took the A. B. de-
gree in that year. Co-educational col
leges, east and west, alarmed by the
swarming of women students into
their halls, are trying to protect the
men by segregating the women.
Higher education is passing from men
to women. The women's college, are
graduating every year thousands of
fine women with highly trained minds.
If | may speak no louder than whis-
per, so as not to be heard outside, |
confess that | believe that the wo-
mems colleges at the present time
stand on a higher plane Of efficiency
than the mems colleges.
1t is a question of the votes of
alien women, less than one-third of
our immigrants are women, and there
are in the United States more than
three times as many native-born wo-
men as there are foreign-bOrn men
and women put together, - millions
over against 10 millions. What sit
uation it is, how wise, how just, that
an ni,ie, ~ t',,,pi !. M0 ,,;i i,rnora9+
siien mon after onlv mort resi-,
dence and most elementary test, are
admitted to the polls. My mother and
my sisters cannot vote for decent
Legislators, but my Polish furnace
man is considered to be a competent
+ an, Wonder that tho 0uaIitv of leg
isla+6rs ali over the Union has deter
;oratnj To+h mantali,, ana n,oralivo
CIV W >0'''
Is 1t a question OF property inter-
ests! Government Is largely a mat,
ter OF guaranteeing to the individual
the right to acquire property and to
hold 1t IN peaceful possession. W omen
are considered citizens Tor the p"f.
pose Of paying taxes; the property OF
the individual woman pays precisely
the same for the support OF govern
ment as that OF the lhdiHIduaI man
surrey taA-pa!lnS Women ~ 4e"sC
ousl! 70 n"'G 'ie "s't!o.' 0t';Ct'
Note III az stoch 60! POI ~ Sil!S
.4ey Hoiu properly me Jaw "iio"e
Mrs 9aee anu W. ;: iial Iliii"lt y, 80, az.
qelIe ana " aolilliIlStel HaSI lio"iu
u treasure, Is II ',o' "nS"tu " iio'u
that suth women iach juuglaeht Oh
governmental questions only
Think a moment and ask yourself
what the opponents of votes lor Wo-
men defend. Do men govern so well
that they are ju5tihed in rejecting the
protfered aid OF women? Can We
make such a boast with So many of
our cities like New York, Philadel-
phia and Pittsburg apparently in their
death throes from the corrupt govern
ment of men? Can the men of Mary
land boast of their ability to govern!
Have We not seen throughout the
whole past winter delegation alteF
delegallohS OF GU. pest clt!Zehs pour
ing INTO AhhapollS by tfaill-loaoS' 10
caJole' TO urge. 10 peSeech' even 10
threaten our legislators ABOUT the VIC
lous laws they proposed TO pass sa"S
utterly hostle TO me pupllc WeiiaFe,
conceived, born and hurtufed IN
spirit OF private enterprise and graft?
One Of the most disqueting signs Of
the times is the degradation of all of
our Legislative bodies and their cynical
dlsregard Tor the rights OF the people;
-