The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24
Cecil Chesterton, English
Author Has Novel Theory
on the Suffrage Problem.
WOULD ALSO ALLOW
WIDOWS USE OF BALLOT
Restrictive Temperance Laws
i Part of Message He
Has to Deliver.

MERICA has suddenly becoms
n the favorite field OF those VINO
\ have messages to deliver to the
world Cecil Chesterton. editor
Of the N,r Witness. a London weekly,
and younger brother Of Gilbert X.
ches,erton. is the latest visitor of this
character.
Englshmcn group Cecil Chesterton
with George Bernard Shaw and Hilaire
Benoc In his paper, the Ncio Witness,
originally founded by Hilaire Belloc.
Mr.. Crcstcrton exposed the Marconi
tandals and attacked the sale OF honors
and peeragcs by the Liberal and Con-
ssrya,lve politicians. lie collaborated
rsh Mr.. Bel,oc in writing The Party
system. a book which attracted much
attention in the English political world.
Mr. Chcsterton comes to America
Eth long LIST Of lecture subjects. The
frs. is. Of course The Great Euro
poan War \ few 81 the others are
socialism and the Servile state"
Woman Suffrage and the Family An
Eagllshmans Experience OF Temper
ject Mr. Chestcrton does not believe in
restrictive legislation.
You always find more drunkenness
In prohibition country than anywhere
else" said MIR. Chesterton to a Sun re-
porter. Look at puritanic-l Scotland,
where there are restrictive laws. There
is much more intoXication to he seen
on the streets there than in England or
In France, where people in normal times
can buy whatever drinks they desire
whenever and wherever rhey want
them.
AS for England now, / think the pro-
hb.,on people have taken advantage
N the war to close the public houses.
AMI vrt tainiy have never seen SO
much drunkenness as since they have
done SO. Those who Will drink buy
what they want in bottles and drink II
anywhere. The reason that ] am so
opposed to prohibition is because when
ever IL IS made difficult to sell drinks,
when the drink trade is kennelized in
certain places, then the people who
enter those few public houses see moth
'ng but alcoholic drinks, which Of course
they buy; there is no room for the soft
drinks IN such crowded quarters.
And when there IS a time limit and
clock then they take a great deal too
much and too fast as a rule; they
cant s!t around and he sociable. they
must drink and go, so they make the
most Of every minute. Temperance
laws create the pure drink shop, but
where there is no restrictive legisla-
ton the barkeeper has plenty OF soft
drinks and the frequenter Of the pubic
house may sit IN comfort and sip his
soft drink or his beer slowly; he won't
drink nearly so much under these con-
ditions. When the public houses are
reduced in number they get terribly
crowded and when a man must drink
WITH an eye on the clock, as | said then
he drinks at an amazing rate; at least
he does in London.
Il rather think | shall lecture on
the temperance question while
am over here" said Mr.. Chesterton
houghtfuly.
For the benefit 81 those who have
not yet seen or heard this English ed
tor il may he said that he is inclined
to he somewhat anti-tnll, anti-thin and
an dnu-suffragist, the last, however,
. only 50 far as suffrage in England is
concerned He has "a ruddy complexion
and gentle voice both decidedly Eng
ish, and he has "A way Of shutting his
eyes into mere Sits, which reminds one
oi the hero Of THE Scarlet Pmpernel."
ne gives the impression of being a keen
observer and he opens his eyes wide
snd talks entertainingly when the spirit
g. moves him.
As To- his position regarding woman
'unraEe in England he is not IN favor
OF II as conditions are now, but he
would never oppose the measure Wig
o."Ia g, His reasons for not favoring
''' suffrage movement are quite unlike
l'' arguments offered by the ants Of
'.s country.
y. argumcnts thai women are not
'IiaI 'o men in intelligence are rub
.-. Nr Chc,terton says cnpnatically.
Trey arc perfectly equal to men and
VI many cases superior
TIA. idea that women should not
VOC because they cannot fight is
EQUALLY silly and false. The stale to-
o. not built on force but upon the
,'nScn' and contract Of the governed,
lod ought 10 understand that, for your
own Declaration of independence is
lne finest summary Of political doctrine
thar know Of
II seems to me that both the suffra-
s'SlS and the ants have got hold OF
Ue wrong end Of the stick when they
assume that women were once consid-
tyed not M TO vote. Even back In the
"'alle Ages women often held very i'm
portant and powerful positions and had
voice IN the management of affairs
witness the abbosscs and others Of those
days
My objection to woman suffrage in
England IS purely theoretical and
mould never stir myself to oppose it,
nut can't imagine why any one should
make such a fuss about a thing like
me vote, it isn't worth enough. As il
stands to-day the vote is Of no use 10
man or woman, 50 far as | can see, be-
'ause an matters are decided by an orti-
al caucus. The people have nothing
az all to saw