Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-06-03
why WOMEN
SHOULD VOTE.

BECAUSE
It is right and fair that those who
must obey the laws should have a
voice in making them, and that those
who must pay taxes should have a
vote as to the size of the tax and the
way 1t shall be spent
BECAUSE
the moral, educational, and humane
legislation desired by women would be
got more easily If women had votes.
In many exclusively male suffrage
states. women have worked in vain for
legislative measures which have gone
through promptly in equal suffrage
states.
BECAUSE
laws unjust to women would be,
amended more quickly. It cost Massas
secure the law making mothers equal
guardians of their children with the
fathers. In Colorado and in Califor.
MIA. after women were enfranchised,
the very next legislature granted it.
After more than half century of agi.
tation by women for this reform only
seventeen states and the District OF
Columbia now give equal guardian
ship to mothers.
BECAUSE
disfranchisement helps to keep wages
down. Hon. Carroll D. Wright, Ma
tional Commissioner of Labor, said in
an address delivered at Smith Col
lege: 'The lack Of direct political in.
duence constitutes powerful reason
why women's wages have been kept
at minimum.
BECAUSE
equal suffrage would increase the pro
portion of educated voters. The high
schools Of every state in the Union
are graduating more girls than boys
often twice or three times as many.
y REPORT Of Commissioner of Educa-
tion.)
BECAUSE
1t would increase the proportion of ma
tive-born voters. According to the cen
sus of 1910, there are in the United
States 129 men of foreign birth to
every 100 women, while among Asia,
tics the men outnumber the women
two to one.
BECAUSE
1t would increase the moral and law
abiding vote very much, while in
creasing the vicious and criminal vote
very little. Women form minority
Of all the criminal and vicious class
es, and majority Of all the classes
working for human advancement.
BECAUSE
1t leads to fair treatment of women in
the public service In Massachusetts,
the average pay Of female is about
one-third that Of male teacher, and
in almost all of the states it is unequal
In all the equal suffrage states they
get equal pay for equal work.
BECAUSE
legislation for the protection Of chill
dren would be secured more easily.
Judge Lindsey of the Denver Juvenile
Court, says: I'VE have in Colorado
the most advanced laws of any state
In the Union for the care and protec-
ton Of the home and the children.
These laws, in my opinion. would not
exist at this time if il were not for
the powerful influence of woman sut
frage."
BECAUSE
It is the quietest, most dignified and
least conspicuous way of influencing
public affairs. 1t takes much less ex-
penditure Of time, labor and personal
presence to go up to the ballot box,
drop In slip Of paper, and come away.
than to persuade multitude Of mis-
cellaneous voters to vote right
BECAUSE
1t would make women more broad.
minded. Professor Edward H., Griggs
says: The ballot is an educator, and
women win become more practical and
mo-A wise In using it.
BECAUSE
woD.Gn's ballot would make it harder
for notoricusly bad candidates to be
nominated o. elected. In the equal
suffrage s;ate& both parties have to
put up man Of respectable character
Or lose the women's vote.
BECAUSE
Il would increase Woman.s influences.
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