The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-23
Mr.. Garrison's Comfortable solution.

~ ~ FsblTph VI IL SON-CVs III
your fair presentation of the suffrage
campaign OF New Jersey you printed
the following statement of Mr.. 9arri-
sons views.
Woman suffrage canno, possibly work
for society and for good government the
miracles predicted BY the extremely san
euine among Its adyocates. It can on the
contrary do no harm and bring no dan
ger and. 1t may do good. Let us try 1t.
Now, II the first proposition be true.
and no thinking man without prejudice
may deny II, how can SO sagacious "A
a advocate suffrage on the ground
that II may do good? II will surely do
harm and bring danger by contributing
largely to the lower element I'm the form
OF votes from the Inferior type Of
women. while the better type of vote not
purchasable and incorruptible will not
only not be increased but diminished by
the skulking of the polls now unfortu-
nately prevalent among its male repre-
sentatives.
Moreover. the former part OF the popu-
lation together with those Immediately
above them In the social scale. most Of
whom are affiliated with the snarchistic
element, Is steadily Increasing. while
race suicide plays havoc with the So
called upper portion. This becomes evil
dent tn any n who will carefully
study the birth and death rate among
infants OF all classes as II existed dur
ing the twenty years preceding the
Straus milk propaganda and compare IL
with the diminished MANTLE mortality
since milk stations. school inspections,
Health Department activities. anti
tuberculosis propagandists. welfare So
cieties and settlement worker have
str!ven to prevent illness and deaths
whicl formerly equalized To a certain
extent the population OF the prolific
lower with the u~nproductive upper
strata. These studies would reveal the
fact that in a few decades the undesir-
able element In our social fabric will
become politically dominant. Their pre-
Iondera'ice in population IL bound to
greatly Increase the votes OF their
women. while the laissez faire mode Of
life prevailing among the so-called upper
classes will keep these women out Of
the political arena who are now oppos-
ing suffrage besides keeping away many
others of the leisure classes who are
now seeking an outlet from boredom In
this agitation. The slightest reflection
shows that that there IL real danger In
equal suffrage. Mr.. Garrison 10 the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
The practical experiment In equal sur-
frage now In operation In the States
having comparatively small populations
not having produced any decided and
ings. would It not be the part ~ wis
dom to continue this experiment until
some positive guidance may he evolved
from Il. instead OF rushing headlong
into a revolutionary change OF the fran
c Ise In our populous States
1T can do no harm. and bring no
danger surely. to adopt his prudent
course II may preclude the necessity
OF later following the course OF New
Jersey. which rerud!ated equal suffrage
after trying Il out, The issues are too
much beclouded by partisan statements
and misstatements at present 10 form
clear judgment. This Is evident from
the illogical position OF Mr.. Garrison.
who in one breath douht the POSSIBLE
lily OF great improvement IN govern
nent from equal suffrage and. In an
other advises us to try It because II can
do no harm"
There is no doubt that II may do
great harm. and the probabilities tat Il
Will become a menace 10 good govern
ment are so strong that equal suffrage
should he defeated by all fair means.
r. r. GLENN.
Nrw YopW OctoNor sn