The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-01
Two Sides of Every Question
Mrs. Stsdard replies to interview with Doris Stevens and
quotes telling 6gures-Mss E. L. Robinson has few
things to say on the other side

To the Editor Of the woman's
Herald: 1 am reading Miss Doris
stevens remarks in the Woman's
Herald last Thursday in regard to the
States to gain for the women of the
East that which, for some reason, she
| thinks they are unable to accomplish
for themselves. 1t may be pertinent
to cite a few instances of that West
ern prestige and power and then con-
scientiously ask ourselves whether The
ballot is worth the price. There Is
no reason to believe that the women
of the East are in any way inferior
less energetic. less cognizant Of the
family welfare, less ambitious or less
deserving than the women OF the Far
West with their delectable vote. But
is 1t as alluring and all sufficient as
the suffragists would have US believe?
One Of the Ssuffragist's keenest tend
encies is to allow herself to be swept
along on the waves of jealous en-
thusiasm until the realm of fiction and
romance predominates over the cold,
everyday existence.
The entire female population of the
eleven full suffrage States from babies
In arms up is only 3,6s4.778. When
Miss Stevens states enthusiastically
that the President can scarcely ignore
the appeal for help from 1000, 900
Western women, does she not clearly
present mistaken enumeration of
figures which is important? And We
may be entitled to the presumption
that many of that population are in
different or even opposed to the bal
lot for women.
When men Of such prominence as
Judge W. H. Smell. of Tacoma, Wash.
and Judge Lindsey. of Colorado, make
the unflattering statements in regard
to woman suffrage which they have
through the press recently. it may be
that the women of the East without
the vote are not on the side that
needs ply and help. Judge Smell said
in the Boston Post March 81: Il am
SO greatly disappointed at the way it
(suffraSe for women) has worked out
that l would today welcome an op-
portunity to vote for its withdrawal.
and 1 believe il it were resubmitted
to the people of Washington. and ev-
were compelled to vote upon 1t, wom-
an suffrage would be defeated by an
overwhelming majority"
Judge Lindsey recently stated that
Massachusetts, was twenty years ahead
of Colorado in regard to remedial legis-
lation and statutes. The State with
the most savage conflicts between capi-
tai and labor is Colorado. Women have
voted since 1888 The divorce rates per
10000 of married people in Colorado IL
4DS.' Compare this with an Eastern State,
New York without votes for women.
where 1t Is 60 to every 100000. The State
In which 1t is alleged polygamy still
survives is Utah-suffrage since 1886. The
State which is the greatest menace to
International peace is California, suf-
frage since 1911. The San Francisco call
on June s, announced the withdrawal
from the State Federation Of women's
Clubs Of the Ebell Club. largest in the
United States, with a membership Of
I5o7. The step was taken by an almost |
unanimous vote as they protested against |
what they termed the political meth |
DDS and trickery which come into the |
State Federation Of Women's Clubs"
and gave warning Of what 10 believed /!
to be the danger and disorEanization |
which viii befall It unless It takes
warming" Is this a good precedent to |
establish for the Eastern States to fol- |
low?
The State which has recently re-estab- |
lished itself as the country's divorce |
colony is Colorado-suffrase in 1874 !
In Oregon. which has had full suf-
frage since 1n2. law compelling an |
efght-hour day and room ventilation for /
woman workers was rejected.
In Washington q bill creating Q teach. |
ers' retirement fund was voted down.
In regard to child labor laws the suf- |
frage States have never been leAders In |
this kind Of Regulation. and most Of the |
Eastern States are, tar superiof, Aasaa- |
chusetts. male suffrage State. ranking /
exceptionally high In Its labor lava
Would Il not be well to let the women l
Of the East settle the prosasGns peculiar
10 -themselves In their owAS vny ~ = 4
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