The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
ISSUE
SERIOUS STUDY
Mrs. Purves Says No State
Gives Women Ballot When
Voters Really Vote.
ITS MAJORITIES SMALL
Asserts Government Needs Strongest
Men in 0fice-Women Decline
Ballot When Il Is Given.
ITS MAJORITIES SMALL
DE- MRS. AusTIN u. PURvEs,

ny MRS. AUSTIN N. PUHNES,
Most men and many women look upon
''votes for women" as something TO be
laughed at, or at least, as an issue that
is o. little or no Importance save TO its
agitators. 1t Is just this attitude that
the baIlot-seekers depend on TO gain their
encs
II we examine the history Of woman
suffrage, we will md in every instance
that il has been slipped through" a
legislature or an election ION a wave" of
populism or political insurgency. while
the majority Of the people were indiffer-
ent. Every one Of the nine States where
women vote-Wyoming. Colorado. Utah,
Oregon, Washington. California, Arizona,
and Kansas-defeated the issue several
times before II was finally adopted, and
the majorities by which woman suffrage
won at the polls have always been 90
small as conciusively to prove that popu-
lar indifference. rather than sober re-
fiection, moved the electorate.
In the case of California. woman suf-
frage was foisted on the State by a
plurality of only $500. while 5000 elect
ors neglected to vote on the question.
Wyoming has had woman suffrage since
1868, Colorado since 1888 Idaho and Utah
cured votes for women since 1910, with
the aid Of Socialists and the Progressive
party, were able TO get the measure estab-
lished by an aggregate plurality Of less
than 1900 for all fiye States.
The majority in California would not
be called a popular one. even for a first
class city. and the total pluralities for
Kansas, Washington Arizona. Oregon,
and California were less than President
. eNR R-s-la Gs.ga -
Colorado in 1872
On the other hand, suffrage has been
severely defeated at the polls by ma
jorities that leave no question Of the
public attitude Michigan defeated votes
for women" twice. by Tso and sS.1A votes.
Ohio went against suffrage by $500. and
Wisconsin by 5000.
Partial woman suffrage got through
the Illinois legislature because q band OF
sufragists worried its Indifferent MEM
bers into aequiescence, and persuaded
some OF them to let 1t go Just to see
how II would work" Yet no more con-
elusive demonstration of popular senti-
ment against woman suffrage has ever
been given than that recorded In the
Chicago primaries in 1912, and supple
mented by the recent refusal Of over
nine-tenths Of the women voters Of that
city to take part in the primaries Of Sep
tember .. 1914
VIII of the People.
Discussion OF all the pros and cons
is tiresome. Votes for women" have
been championed for sixty-hve years by
able orators and writers. and yet they
have not convinced per cent OF the
mature women OF America that the ballot
10 anything but burden to women. an
expense to the State. q menace to mar
riage and motherhood, and an advance
agent Of social unrest
Half, II not more, Of the feminist pro-
paganda Is launched through Spectacular
sensationalism that has no method to its
madness except the attraction OF the sort
Of attention called notoriety. Militancy
In England IL insanity, unless we grant
that the suffragists who claim II IL only
advertising are right. Likewise. the
various hikes parades, melting pots,
blacklists. encampments and balloon as
tensions INDUCED In to help the cause
OF woman suffrage in America are utterly
nonsensical, except as publicity measures
No other effect Is planned or hoped for
by the suffragists themselves.
Was It necessary to plague our busy
President an eighth time after he had
courteously refused to indorse the suf-
frage amendment seven tlmes2 Was it
well or womanly. not to mention polite
or good policy. TO address q communica-
tion to the President Of the United
in which he was ordered to 'let no diplo-
matte convention stand in the way" OF
immediate Efforts TO effect peace in Eu-
rope. as was recently done by a dele
cation OF the international Women's
Council!
Need sane Government.
sobriety and eniciency in government
have never seemed &C necessary as now, |
when we see q whole continent torn |
asnnder by the racial hatreds and poiiti- |
cal jealousies Of Europe. Does any ele- |
ment that wages a constant Campaign Of |
agitation through emotional excesses de- |
serve to be added to our already cumber- |
some electorate? The viii OF our people |
has answered in the negative at every |
fair and impartial consideration Of wom-
an suffrage.
The anti-suffragists have associations |
in every State where the franchise ques- |
ton Is at issue, seyenteen IN all: though, |
the ideals and the tenn /
permanent OF representative women, anti
outrage organizations are not formed /
unless necessary. And these associations |
are growing. az Rapidly as the need Of /
feminist sophistry exhibits It.
self They do not conhne themselves 70
The battle about the ballot. however, but
use the machinery Of their oreanixa-
lion. wherever possible, 20 further the
nduea ffonnf ard enorn1 rneaartran -.