The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-02-19
Of votes for women would never

that is the only way. EllneT W.
men must work as men work, or they
will never be qualified to vote as men
vote.
Let there be no mistake as TO the
import OF this argument. II is not
in the remotest manner based upon
the assumption or the belief that wo-
zen is mans inferior, either intel
lectually or in any other way. II
rests upon the established fact that
mans work is different from wom-
ems work. and that it is his work
and his striving in his own particu-
lar field that give man the qualifying
knowledge essential TO intelligent
voting. We are as far as possible
from insisting that woman is incap-
able of acquiring that knowledge. we
do insist that she can acquire 1t only
through a radical reorganization OF
society which would condemn her
to do mems tasks. to bear mems bur
dens. But IL the women were to take
up mans duties, who is to assume
the woman's duties? Both are hon
orable, both bring their rewards,
one is as necessary as the other, Tor
both are indispensable to society.
And women would be profoundly
affected by taking up mans labors,
it would inevitably be roughening
process, women would be changed
and not for the better. If there be
those who would contend that women
must become less womanly, that they
should become masculine in thought
and feeling and temperament, argu-
ment: neither will they openly ad-
nit that they would like to see wo-
men become more men like. But
without that transformation women
cannot qualify for the vote as men
qualify, and there is no other way to
acquire the qualification. The effect
upon women is one of the conse-
uuences most to be dreaded.
No upright and decent man de-
sires to withhold from woman any |
privilege that will benefit her. The |
that is vaguely called the |
femist movement has already had
alarming results. Moral laxitives |
which used to be regarded with alb |
horrence are too frequently extenu- |
ated. The hackneyed cry that what |
is right for the man is right for !
the woman" is heard continually. 1t |
Is specious, shameless, unrighteous. |
was ever right in a mans |
conduct which was not moral and con-
sistent with the laws of God and |
man. There is no good word to say |
for loose living by either sex. 1t is |
The feeblest and wickedest argument |
for any increased freedom" for VIC
men (the phrase is common proper
ty) that some men are immoral. But |
it is one heard too often, and one
we ale constrained 20 predict. which
will be heard more frequently, ut-
tered more vociferously, if the right
TO vote is extended TO women
At present, in SPITE of the inces
t activities ~: the advocates 1T
greater license for women, of the
iteration Of many arguments agains:
the bonds of marriage and the ~.
ranny of the home, there is a strong
and wholesome barrier which serves
to keep women apart from men in
the hurly-burly of life, to insure them
from the opposite sex, to
give them many precious privileges.
Women already exert constant pow
erful influence in our public affairs.
We are firmly convinced that the
breaking down of the barrier would |
bring upon them burden of new !
evils, that it would tend to coarsen |
women, TO drive them of natural
rights and privileges without due /
That the proposed /
arge extension of the suffrage could .
n any circumstances act as tri- .
lmphant resenerative force in our
politics we cannot for moment
admit. The right to vote has been
possessed for many years by the wo-
men of Wyoming. ColorOda, Utah,
md Idaho, and has been granted
more recently to those of Washing
on, California. Arizona, Kansas, Ore
ION, Illinois, Montana and Nevada.
The moral ecect of woman suffrage
n those States have been negative.
rhe records are extant.
1t has been said too often that
woman suffrage will come in spite
# everything" II that is true every
Ugh minded responsible man who
,nows it will bring affiiction with it
{ it does come must do his best to
postpone the evil day. Many men
lave taken the matter too lightly.
With the great increase of the women
ocial distinction and nersOnal charm