Williams news., 1915-08-05
WHY SHOULD
 WOMEN VOTE?
WoMAN'S SUFFRAGE FROM THE
 VIEWPOINT OF LEADING FARMERS.


 the question that Is ringing from ocean to ocean and reverberating from the Canadian boundary to the Mexi- can border. It is the mission of newspaper to give the news and the action of the Texas Farmers Union in opposing woman's suffrage when that question was recently before the Texas legislature is significant as representing the attitude of the or iganized plowmen. We reproduce in part the argument presented by Hon. w. D. Lewis, president of the Texas Farmers Union, in opposing the bill:
 Tt Is gratifying to note that it Is not the farmers wife who Is clamoring for the ballot. She Is too busy trying to make happier homes. mold ing the minds of future citizens and sharing with her husband the cares of life to indulge in political gossip. The ballot will give her no relief from drudgery. give no assistance in cloth ing the children or bring to the home additional comforts, conveniences or opportunities in life. It is, as a rule, the city woman promoted to idleness by prosperity, who Is leading the suf fragette movement
 From many standppints, perhaps a woman has as mucM right to vote as a man. So has she as much right to blow as a man; she has as much right to work in a factory as a man; she has as much right to shoulder a musket as man, but we would rather ,h IL and we regret that necessity ofttimes ,compels her to earn living by en- gazing in gainful occupations. We do not consider misfortune qualifica- 'tion for suffrage or a business acci- dent a reason for granting franchise. We are opposed to woman at the ballot box the same as we are op- posed to woman in the field, in the factory or in the army and for the self-same reasons. We had rather see her plant flowers than SOW wheat; gather bouquets than pick cotton and rear children than raise political is- sues, although she may have as much right to do one as the other.
 Opposed to Unsexing Humanity.
 S"Sex qualification for suffrage may have it's apparent inconsistencies. No general rule adjusts itself perfectly to all conditions. It is a favorite ar gument advanced by the proponents of woman's suffrage that many cultivated and noble women are far more capa- ble of intelligently exercising sov- ereignty than worthless negro, but the South never was anxious for negro suffrage, and while culture and refinement, and even morality, are deSirable virtues, they are not the only qualifications for franchise.
 -IThe primary, inherent and insep- arable fitness for suffrage is support ing family. The blow handle, the forge and the struggle for bread af- ford experience necessary to properly mark the ballot. Government is a great big business and civilization from the very beginning assigned woman the home and man the busi- ness affairs of life
 There has been much freakish leg 1slation enacted during the past de- cade that no doubt appeals to woman's AOfO AOi lhC ilolCulouS, DuL IO uuQ6T- take to unsex the human race by law is the height of legislative folly and a tragedy to mankind I've are opposed to the equal rights Of woman-we want her to ever re- main our superior. We consider woman's desire to seek mans level the yellow peril of Twentieth Century civilization.
 Woman is the medium through which angels whisper their messages to mankind; 1t is her hand that plants thoughts in the intellectual vineyard; it is through her heart that hope, love and sympathy overflow and bless man. Kind. Christine liberator of woman hnd-was satisfied to teach the lessons of life and He was a man. He chose to rule over human hearts and re- fused worldly power and men followed after Him, women washed His feet, little children climbed upon His knees and the Ruler of the universe said that in Him He was we'll pleased. Can woman find higher calling?"