El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-22
BY RALF BORDER.

tory. And, in my humble opinion, 1t is
the most important question which has
ever been placed before the people Of
this republic. The change proposed by
the advocates Of woman's suffrage is
fundamental; it goes to thu very roots
and sources, not only Of our govern
ment, but OF our system Of society and
the fabric Of our civilization. Yet, not
withstandihg the radical character of
this innovation which IS being sub
mitted to the American people, it has
aroused but a cursory interest among
the great mass Of our voters; while
our statesmen nd politicians sidestep
the issue with all the agility Of pro-
fessional acrObats. Already certain
states have adopted Woman's suffrage
surely it is high time that we, the peo-
pie OF this country, awaken to the ma
-ture and consequences OF this reYolu-
tionary measure which is being agitated
so widely
The Negative Argument.
Doubtless many. If not all OF US, have
heard the expression: There Is not
q single valid reason why women
should not vote" That is not a valid
argument. Would you entirely alter
our method OF government simply be-
cause there appears no valid reason Tor
not doing soy Our political lnst1tu-
tons are a success Ihose VINO 1aEor
z clanEe must give NalAQ LtdSolLS 4D-
making the change those against
change have the right to STAND upon
the record made. Which is the most
successful store in FL PasO2 For Illus
tration we viii call it The Blank
Suppose someone having a financial
interest in that store should suggest 10
the board Of directors fundamental
departure in their method Of doing
business. Would it not devolve upon
that person to show the benefits to be
=. en-z#nr NHaar#
It would not devolve upon the board
Of directors, in the first instance, to
show why the innovation should not be
adopted.
The same line Of reasoning applies
TO Woman's suffrage We who oppose
il stand upon the record Of our inst1-
tutions. Those who favor It must give
good and valid reasons why It should
be adopted.
Women Would Rule.
The plan of government Of these
United States was not conceived nor
executed in a day. Our constitutions
and laws, both state and national, are
b the result Of thousands OF years OF
toll and thought and suffering, Of hero
ism and of abnegatiOn on the part OF
the human race They represent the
labor of philosophers and statesmen,
the uriva tons OF women and little chill
dren. the lives OF soldiers and the
blood Of martyrs Yet some would
alter and remodel the superstructure
thus erected with all the abandon OF
children attempting to touch up the
painting of a Rubens or the sculpture
Of a Phidias. But" you say, TINS
is putting the matter too strongly; the
unea sure we propose is not revolution
AIRY, but merely a perfecting and am
DIifying Of our present plan OF govern
ment" That argument viii not hold
water The voters and controllers or
our country are and have been men;
the plan works. as II cannot possibly
do, you take the control away from
the male and place it with the female,
for, just so sure as these United states
are on the map, Just so surely VIII
the women Of this country eventually
outnumber the men. as they already do
in many Of the older countries
Would II Help Society.
Now, what reasons can be given for
the adoption Of Womaa's suffrage2 One
which is often advanced, is, that 1t is
WOmau's political right This = a very
plausible argument On 1lrst glance
It seems no more than just TO give to
woman, who is subject TO the law,
voice in making the law; provided, OF
course, she so desires and is qualified
to exercise it However, after all, the
political rights, or rather privileges, OF
individuals are subject TO the best IN
terests Of society; and so finally this
phase Of the question resolves itself
into whether the extension Of the
privilege OF suffrage to woman would
or would not be detrimental to the
welfare OF society. And, as 1 shall
attempt to show later on, such extern
sion would not only be detrimental but
would tend to the very disruption Of
our institutions Furthermore woman
neither cares TO vote nor is capable Of
voting. And, when I say she IS not
capable, I do not mean that her men
tai endowments are inferior to mans,
but merely that she has her mental
characteristics and he has his, and
that knowledge and discretion in po-
Htical affairs is not a Characteristic
appertaining to the female sex.
Property Rights and Votes.
Another reason invariably given IN
support OF wOman's suffrage is, that to
tax the property OF a woman and not
allow her to vote IS taxation without
representation and consequently IN
just and contrary TO the principles OF
our government It is pointed out that
taxation without representation was
the cause Of the revolutionary war. and
that, in denying woman the right OF
suffrage, we are guilty Of the same
conduct for which we fought England
generations ago
However to have taxed US as q peo-
pie and to have given US no voice in
the government is one thing; TO tax an
individual and give him no voice in
the government is entirely different IL
a taxpayer, because he is such, has the
right to vote we have been a long
time finding it out There is no such
principle embodied IN the constitution
Of the United States nor in the bills
Of rights of the several states.
Taxed without Votes.
Minors pay taxes yet have no power
TO vote, so do aliens and corporations;
and. II the franchise depenCs upon the
ownership Of property. then the vote
Of q rich man should count for more
than that Of a poor man; the vote OF
a Rockefeller should count for as
much as those Of a thousand ordinary
individuals. No, the power to vote IS
a privilege extended TO persons as per
sons and not to property owners as
property owners In this country, a
man is a man, and the penniiess have
equal privileges with the wealthy In
the administration Of its affairs
Still another argument advanced in
favor Of equal suffrage is, that wom-
ans place in society is such that she
should have the ballot in order to en-
able her to- alleviate her position and
guard her interests.
Does Woman Need PrOtcctiOnf
But since when IN our history has
the position Of woman needed aileFia-
ton or the interests Of woman lacked
protection Examine the laws of any
state and vow will find that rhp-r have