Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-23
Bryan OUT FOR
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Declares the Sex Will Not Fail
If Given New Respon"
sibility.
IS TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT
Says Mother Can Justly Claim
Every Weapon to Protect
Those Whose Interests
She Guards.

Washington, July 16-Secrctary Bryan,
In a formal statement issued tonight,
came out for woman suffrage. He de-
clared he would ask no political right
for himself that he was not willing to
grant his wife, and announced his in
tention of supporting the proposed state
constitutional amendment extending the
franchise to woman to be voted upon
In Nebraska next November.
Woman Mr.. Bryan said, had proved
herself equal to every responsibility i'm
posed upon her, and would not fail So
Iiety in this emergency. Above all
other arguments in favor Of giving her
the ballot he placed the right Of the
mother to a voice in the moulding Of
the environment of her children.
The mother the secretary said, can
Justly claim the right to employ every
weapon which can be made effective for
the protection of those whose interests
she guards and the ballot will put within
her reach all of ths Observation-Disclosures of
government, including the police power.
WHY HE DELAYED.
Discussing the proposed suffrage amend
ment in Nebraska, Secretary Bryan said
lac had delayed expressing opinion on the
',ubtect partly because he had been seek
ng information. He discussed the vari-
JUS objections to equal suffrage that have
been advanced by the "antis" and voiced
arguments aimed to refute these objcc
tons. The latter. he said, however hon
estly advanced, have proven impotent to
retard women's progress" He put this
question In his arguments:
MAY not the fears, sincerely enter
tained by opponents of women's suffrage,
be found to be as groundess as that
which once forced the widow in eastern
India to ascend the funeral pyre or as
those that now exclude Mohammedan
women from the social benefits and re-
eponsibilities which the woman of the
Christian world shares"
NO DOUBT OF HIS DUTY.
The secretary continued:
.'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 enthusiasm are on the
side of those who favor woman's suf-
frage Organization is an evidence OF
earnestness as Well as of comprehen-
sion of the subject. People do not asso-
ciate themselves together to secure a
given end until they have reached q
ability and feel that its accomplishment
is worth the effort for which it calls. II
is quite evident that those who disinter-
,stedy desire woman's suffrage are will
ing to make greater sacrifices to secure II
than those who disintcrcsedly oppose
woman's suffrage are willing to make
to prevent it. As for myself l am not
IN doubt as to my duty"
For time | was impressed by the
Duggestion 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
1ut | find myself less and less dis
posed to endorse this test.
politics will not suffer by woman!
entrance into it. If the politica
world has grown more pure in spite
Of the evil influences that have oper
Ated to debase it, it will not be pol
9uted by the presence and participa
tion of woman. Neither should W,
! doubt that woman can be trusted will
the ballot. She has proven hersel
: equal to every responsibility imposed
upon her; she will not fail society 4
nhis emergency. Let her vote. AM
may that disccrnment which has
i. throughout the ages, ever enabled he
4 TO quickly grasp great truths--mad
, her the last at the cross and the frs
discharge of her political duties as I,
add new glores to her and through
her still further bless society,"