The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-11-25
TELLS OF 400 YEARS BATTLE
Well Known Kenosha Priest Asserts
That the Right of Woman to Vote
Is Guaranteed to Her by Magma
Charta- Must Decide Herself.

The most interesting piece of htera-
ture on the question Of Woman's stuff
rage contributed to the Wisconsin con-
vention of sufragists at Milwaukee
last week, was contributed by man.
1t promises to have nation wide clrcu-
lation. The man was the Rev. R. j.
Smith, pastor of st. James church in
Kenosha. The full text of the letter
has been given out in Kenosha and it
will undoubtedly be read with inter
est, not only by those who favor the
granting of the ballot to women, but
those who oppose this movement. In
his communication Father Smith said:
In the very beginning was pro-
| claimed the doctrine that woman is a
human being, created in the image and
standing and free will, and like man,
responsible for her actions,'' he said.
This teaching, the Magma Charta, of
woman s rights brought its disciples
into direct conflict with human law
and custom, which looked upon woman
as mere chattel, or slave, without
any rights that man was bound to re-
spect.
THE wa rfor the emancipation Of
| woman lasted, not four years, but four
| hundred years. Onsthe one side fought
| the soldiers of Christ, the priesthood of
| the new law, with the sword Of the
| spirit, which is the word Of truth Ar
rayed against these knights of the
cross was the brute force Of imperial
| Rome, and though truth was crushed to
earth again and again, and watered
with the tears and blood Of millions of
| martyrs, it finally triup1nbed over error
at the peace of CONSTANT ~, when Rome
became Christian state, and accepted
| the Christian ideal of womanhood. This
| ideal quickly took root, grew and flour
ished wherever Christianity gained
foothood.
| "The Magma Charta Of woman S
rights included the right to life, liber-
| ty, and the pursuit Of happiness. She
is free to choose and see her path, and
need not be led like a beast of burden.
She may remain single or marry and
help propagate the race. The standard
measure of her right to do a thing is,
and ought to be, her ability to do it like
her brother. She may till the soil, herd
cattle, sheep, goats ard swine, or suf-
fer herself to be hitched with a dog or
a goat, an OK or an ass, as she has done
time out Of mind in certain parts Of
Europe. In the belligerent countries
Of Europe, we see her taking the place
of father, husband or brother, in the
shops where the weapons of war are
forged. She has the right to teach in
all kinds Of schools, and be the head of
a school. She may be lawyer, or be
a queen, exercising limited, or absolute
jurisdiction. She may own, buy or sell
property.
Her right to vote springs from her
duty to love her neighbors and to love
her country as she loves herself. The
moral and material good of her neigh
Dor and Of her country must be as dear
to her as her own. 1t is her duty to
study the needs of her neighbor and
the needs of her state, as well as her
own needs. It is her duty TO see that
good laws are enacted and enforced, as
well as to. see that honest lawmakers
and honest executions are chosen. How
can she perform these duties as she
should without the right to vote?
"Where is she granted the Magma
/ Charta of her natural rights9 Must she
always be thankful to enjoy the PARA
Charta, or part of the things God has
given herg She wants standard meas.
ure, and not short measures, and she
is going to get it because she wants it
and because men are beginning to think
it would be well for her to have it.
"When great, conservative men like
/ President Wilson come out in favor of
woman suffrage in New Jersey, the day
cannot be far distant when she shall
enjoy the right to vote in every state
in the union.
~ n L L y