Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-07-17
Secretary Of State Announces
Intention TO Support Pro-
posed Amendment in Home
State, Nebraska.
EL0QUENTLY GIVES
REASONS FOR STAND
Mothers Have Right TO Ballot
and to Employ Every Weap-
on Effective in Protection
Of interests,
y, uosNlra looasA, sr.el.l ,s.sso Nl-.l

~ soNNiro JovssA, srre,.l lsAssp Wlrri
Washington. July l6.-S Secretary
of state William j. Bryan in a for
NAL statement ISSUED tonight. came
out for woman suffrage. He declared
that ne would ask no political right
for himself that he Was not willing
to grant his Wife and announced his
intention of supporting the proposed
state constitutional amendment eX-
tending the franchise TO women to
be voted upon in Nebraska next No
vemher
Woman, Mr.. Bryan said. had
proved herself equal to every respon-
slbilty Imposed upon her. and would
not fail society Ia this emergency.
Above all other arguments in favor
of giving her the ballot he placed
the right of the mother to voice IN
the moulding of the environment Of
her children. tThe mother. the Sec
retaty said, "can justly claim the
right To employ every weapon which
can be made effective for the protec-
ton OF those whose interests she
guards and the ballot VIII put within
her reach all OF the instrumentaliti les
of government, including the police
power"
Win support Amendment
The statement in part follows
THE voters OF Nebraska will at
the election next November, adopt
or reject a proposed amendment ex-
tending suffrage to women on equal
terms With men As a citizen Of that
state, II viii he my duty TO partlci-
pate IA the decision to be rendered
at the polls ! ehall support the
amendment shall ask no political
rights for myself that | ann not Will
ing to grant TO my wife.
''As man and woman are eo-ten-
ants OF the earth and must work out
their destiny together, the presump-
ton Is on the side Of equality of
treatment in all that pertains to
their Joint life and It's opportunities.
The burden Of proof is on those who
claim for our advantage over the
other in determining the conditions
under which both shall live This
claim has not been established in
the matter Of suffrage
Objections Explained.
The first objection which | re-
member to have been heard was that
rs woman cannot bear arms she
tafNNNN NV itttAt "a NUi'f III UtAlulHk
uuestions that might lead to war,
or in enacting laws that might re-
quirc an army for their enforcement.
This argument is seldom offered
now, FOR the reason that as civiliza-
ton advances laws are Obeyed be-
cause they are an expression of the
public opinion. not merely because
they have powder and lead behind
them.
second 1t is urged by some that
Womans life Is already full Of care
and that the addition of suffrage
would either overbuden her or turn
her attention away from the duties
of the home. The answer TO this Is
that the exercise Of the franchise
might result in change of thought
and occupation that would relieve
the monOtonN of Womans work aud
give restful variety to her activities.
Third Many We'll meaning men
and women affirm that suffrage
would work harm TO woman BY
lessening the respect in which she Is
held. This argument would have
more weight had II not been employ
I'd against every proposition adyanc-
I'd in favor of the cnlargement Of
Nomans sphere.
These objections however. hon
estly advanced. have proven inpo-
tent 10 retard Noman's progress.
May not the fears sincerely enter
aimed by the opponents of woman's
he found to be as gfoundless
Is those that once forced the widow
n eastern lndia to ascend the flu
leral pyre or as those that exclude
Nohammedan woman from the So
,ial benefits ana responsibilities
which the woman Of the Christian
world shares
AND are not The second and third
objections ahcVe stated refuted. to
ONE extent At least. by the fact that
u the states which have adopted
Woman suffrage tand IN the other
ations that have adopted), there is
70 agitation for return 10 the sys-
en- under which man has monop-
y of the right To vote? II is not fair
q assume that an effort would he
1ade to correct the mistake II wo-
aans suffrage had really failed 60
i've satisfaction To the people where
has been tried
'lf one were IN doubt as % which
idc of the controversy 10 take he
could be justified in giving weight
b the fact that organization ana
are on the side Of those
ho favor Womans suffrage.
The Mothers Right.
AS for myself, ! am not in doubt
$ 60 my duty II is not my purpose
, discuss the subject with elabora-
on at this time but I desire to pre-
mt the argument to Which [ give
he greatest weight Without mimi
tzing other arguments advanced in
ipport OF the extending Of suffrage
} woman | place the emphasis Upon
ie mothers right tn voice in
lUulding the environment which
nall surround her children an en-
ironment which operates powerful
in determining whether her off
pring win crown her latter years
-ith Joy or 'hiug down her gray
airs in sorrow To the grave.
THE Creator has placed upon the
iother burden which she could