The Washington herald., 1915-04-25
FEMINSTS ARE
FAMILY Menace
Mrs. Cuilford Argues Class
Cannot Rule in Ameri-
can Politics.
FAMILY IS A SOCIAL UNIT
Anything that Tears 1t Down Defeats
Aim of Soeiety-lndividuals
Without Inherent Rights.
By MRS. DIMEoN n. GUILFoRD.

so1Ation Opposed To woman Suhrage.)
What IL the essential social unit
necessary to the progress and happi-
ness of the human race? Theologians.
statesmen. educators and modern So
biologists agree that IL is the family.
that the germ Of human government
one man and one woman, that the
basis of State and national success
rests on the unity and stability that
exists in the home.
In all forms of government the
unity of the family has been recog-
mixed as an essential consideration.
The family, the clan. the tribe. that
have in turn united to form the ma
ton. have always been regarded as
of more Importance to the race than
the individual as such. In 1890. Con-
dorcet, the French revolutionist. gave
voice to the theory of individualism
that Is in reality, the starting point
for the agitations for Socialism, an
archy. feminism and woman suffrage.
which IL True Social Unitf
The Official historian Of the Ma
tional Suffrage Association recently
stated that there Is nothing in the
Constitution to the effect that the
family rather than the individual is
the true social unit: since the first
agitation for so-called "woman's
rights" in 1S4s. the movement has
been characterized by a marked hos
tility to what is derisively called. in
the history of woman suffrage, the
isolated household, that is RESPONSE
BILE for large share of woman's ig-
norance and degradation" and Co
operative households were demanded
by the pioneers in the feminist move
ment just as vociferously as the most
up-to-date advocate of the cause de-
mands individual representation" and
erects feminist apartments"
The theory of individual inherent
rights to either Representation" or
the ballot has never been upheld save
by Socialists and sufrra gists.
You may look in vain throughout
the constitutions Of civilized States
the inherent right of the individual
either to be represented" or to take
part in the government he lives under.
Every right that is granted him in
government is based on but one con-
sideration-that the interests of the
community as a whole shall be main
tanned. The United States Constitution
gives no one the right to vote: no
State in the Union has ever addicted
cording to age, residence. or other lin
itations prescribed for the public in
terest.
Democracy Il Evolved.
Manhood suffrage Of today has grad
Is practically no part Of the popula-
ton without adequate representation
in the councils of State, and the sue
cess Of our system Of suffrage is ap-
parent when we reflect that no great
party in the United States is repre-
sentative of any class or social con-
dition. The Socialists. alone, attempt
to represent" class interests-and
Samuel Gompers. president of the
the Socialists were labor's greatest
handicap before the Federal Industrial
Relations Committee.
Manufacturer. banker. merchant. art
list, artisan lawyer, mechanic and la
borer are represented in our govern
ment. not Sy a party or by numerical
influence in politics. but by an in
telligent public opinion that demands
adequate legislation for each Of these
vocations in proportion to its service
to the common good. Not one profess
sion or business is organized to &C.
quire special political representation of
its interests. As the workingman has
the Socialist party. the
working class" cannot be said to
be represented by that party: and the
so-called business" control of poll
tics and legislation must indeed be
weak when we consider that $1,000
laws. a majority of which have been
regarded as against the business in
terests of the country. have been pass
ed in the last four years.
But in spite Of the fact that our
government recognizes no inherent
right to the ballot, no right of any
special interest to be represented IN
the suffra gist-feminist
bases the fundamental principles of
her agitation on a theory that with
out the ballot the interests" of wom-
en-, and women as "individuals' are
mot represented" II Interests" were
in our political system, our
and legislators would
represent certain Classes or occupa-
tons. instead of territories wherein
all of these separate interests exist.
II. as suffragists say. the husband
cannot represent the wife at the polls.
how can some other man. that she
interests in the legislature? If a
.woman's party" is required to repre-.
sent the rights Of sex as class.
how does it. happen that no other
class Of citizens demands a party of
its own. And unless this request by
some women for the vote Is based on
a desire to secure such class repre-
sentation alleged to be denied now.
It comes back inevitably to the plea
that as an individual" woman has
A right to the franchise, whether its
to the State be good or
bad. The suffragist debaters contend
that women are class as well as
sex. and many suffrage societies call
q "woman's party"
Now. extending through every strata
Of society. we find the interests OF
men and women alike in essentials.
Good schools, pure food. clean milk
and all the rest Of II are demanded
by father as well as mother; neither
does the husband desire any legisla-
ton that Is against the interests and
happiness Of his wife. because his own
existence Is SO Intimately involved
with hers In their family life.
But, say the feminists, many women
IRE unmarried or widows, and are not
by their husbands. as they
have none. This contention falls down
under the well-known facts ~ fol-
lows: Only per cent Of the women
reach old age without marrying: wild
ows have a habit Of marrying again:
no proposal has yet been made only
10 enfranchise widows and single
women; and on the other hand. the
single woman 10 hardly ever without
,ather. or family that has her inter.
.sts at heart more truly than any
politician she might vote for.