The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-07-21
Bryan $ V;;e1vs on Suffrage
Are Gjve7a More IN Detail
Says That In the Coming Election In Nebraska For
Women To Have the Ball OF and Gives His Reasons

Wiling to make greater sacrifices to
secure II than those who dis.nicrest-
cdly oppose w0lnan's suffrage are Will
ing to make to prevent it.
An for myself, am not in doubt rs
to my duty y Is not NY purpose TO
disciss the subject with elaboration
ai this time. hut | desire TO present
the argument to which i give the
greatest weight. Without minmiz-
ing other arguments advanced in sup
port Of the extending OF suffrage 10
woman. place the emphasis upon the
mothers right to voice in moulding
the Hy.ronmcnt which shall surround
her children--an environment which
opciate5 powerfully in determining
wacthrr her offspring will crown her
latter years with Joy or bring down
her gray hairs in sorrow to the grave.
"'rhc Creator has placed upon the
mother IL burden which she could not
SHIFT r she 80 desired and He has Civ
cn !i"r the disposition 10 bear It. Her
life ircinblcs In the bnlanc" al the
rhild'3 birth: her active years are
;,i:cn to tao care anu nurture OF her
children: her nerve forces and love
is poured out. mE0n them. because
the wealth OF her existence Is bcstow-
cd upon them. they are Il part OF her
very being where your treasure is.
there will your heart be also When
one considers the cost to parents e.
i,ecially TO the mother. or Ising II
child. it seems impossible tnnt any
one would attempt to lead n child as-
tray or rob It's parents OF the Price
less regard to which they are entitled;
nEd yet there are | nevcry generation
aye. In every community. those who
are inhuman enough to deliberately lie
In walt to make n wrcckagc Of tile
lives Of young mon and young wo
men. They lay snares for them: they
set traps for them: and the mon who
ply this ghastly trade fn- gain arc a.
lowed to use the ballot to advance
their pecuniary ends.
~ Am not willing to stay the motli-
er's hand II she thinks TINT by the use
Of suffrage she cnn safeguard the well
fare o fthoso who arc denrcr to her
than her own life.
"The mother can justly claim the
right to her than her own lifew mfwy
right to employ every weapon which
can ta made effective 70 rt:,e protec-
ton OF those whose interests she
guards. and tho ballot will put within
her reach all tho instrumentalitics of
government, Including the police pow
er. II she Is widow, there Is no ono
who Is in n position to speak for her
incthis matter OF supreme Importance;
II her husband is living. she can sup
plement his influence IL thoy agree IS
to what Is. best for those under their
Joint care;.-if they do not agree. who
Will say that only the father should
bc consulted? tsr :,s.,,ss
/ For Il timo ] was Impressed by the
suggestion that the question should
be left to the woman TO dccide-n ma
jority to determine whether tho fran
chise ghould be extended to woman:
but ! find myself less and less dis
posed to endorse this test. Samuel
Johnson coined an epigrEm which Is !
in point here, namely, that mo mans |
conscience can tell him the right of /
another man." Responsibility for the |
chlld's welfare rests primarily upon
the parent; the parent receives In
largest measure the blessings that |
flowo from the child's life. II that life |
Is -nobly employed and upon the par
ent falls the blow with severest force
II the child's life is misspent Why |
should any mother. therefore, be de-
MED the use of the franchise to EDfe- |
guard the welfare Of her child mere
ly because another mother may not |
view her duty in the same light?
Politics will not suffer by womnn's |
entrance into It. II the political |
world has grown moro pure In srite{
OF the evil Influences that have opet,1
atec to debnse It, 1t will not be poll |
luted by the presence and participa- |
tion OF woman. Neither should we
doubt that woman can be trusted with
the ballot. She has proven herself
equal to every responsibility imposed
upon her; she will not fail society in
this emergency. Let her vote. And
may that discernment which has.
throughout the ages. ever enabled
her to Quickly group great truths
make her the last Of the cross and the
first Mt the sepulchre-se direct her
In the discharge oi ter political du-
ties as to add new glories to her and
through her still further bless socle-
v." II