The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-12-01
chinese WOMEN
Active .INlP0L.|iICS
West Virginia. Educator.
Makes Speech at Chi
cagoI Conf rence.

s1hAkS0,hO Clst 20, aBtOoTIeSpOnden
OF The Associated Press Chinese
women have entered into the mon non
archical movement with "a yehemence
which would do credit to Mrs. Pank.
hurst and her most aggressive follow.
ers. Miss An shiang.sun and twenty.
eight ofsher supporters, chiefly. school
mistresses. set the ball rolling In PEEK.
ing by issuing a manifesto urging the
women OF China TO participate in the
movement to restore the monarchy.
This manifesto imme diately calleo
forth o protest from a large body OF
women antisuffragettes, who \ deplor.
ed the effort TO involve women In the
political movement. These protest.
ants not only denounced the attompt
20 enlist women in the political agi.
tahon, but were harsh in their crit.
cism OF the monarchical movement.
They declare that the men werc at.
tempting to restore the monarchy "ex.
pect TO receive some rich reward, such
as titles OF nobility from the ncwsgoy:
eminent for. their services. Their
protest then inquired What motives
have sactuated a section ofiourg women
70 participate In this campaign DO
they aspire for a. space In the new
Emperor,s! harem as consorts or maids.
of:honor o. %
These protesting women urged that
the women OF China have not the In.
telligence necessary to a proper dis.
cussion Of the affairs Of state and that
they should not interfere, with poll.
tics In any way. ~ Z
The views OF Miss, An yShiany:sun
and her followers are set forth In the
following petition: (
Since the Chou An Hui made its
appearance, the cry for a constitution.
al monarchy has echoed from the lips
Of everybody and the whole country
has responded to the call. From mere
theoretical study of the question, the
movement has ncterialized into a
practical campaign. People in every.
walk Of life have raised their voices
In favor OF a monarchy. But to our
great Disappointment, not single
word has been uttered by our women,
nor has there been a single one among
our sisters who has followed the lead
Of the men in this movement. And
thesmen engaged in the campaign! have
also omitted to remind the women OF
the country Of their neglect OF duty.
Are not we women citizens also OF
this country? Do men think that we
women ought to be excluded from par.
ftcipating in such a momentous move
ment as the one that is now leading
US all to the foot of o throng?
According to the constitutional
contact, the sovereignty Of the icoun.
try Is vested In the people of the whole
country naturally means the people
Of both sexes. Out OF the 100000
900 people. half are women. II we
let the men alone promote this move:
inent, not only will the movement be
incomplete but II will seem that men
alone are entitled to rights that be:
long equally to women. flour women
. do not understand the importance
of this, It may be due to sheer ignor.
ance but IL some of them und
yet remain inactive and indifferent to
the movement, they will be guilty OF
ieglecting their duty to the country.
We admit that the intelligence of
the mass Of our women is still at "a
very low standard, but they have the
same interest I'm the country and have
the same desire for the safety Of their
person and property as! the men. Why
should we women remain passive with.
out raising IA hand to support the
movement? Being women, we are of
frail constitution and limited educa.
ton, yet we have. been deeply con.
cerned with the unsettled conditions
Of the country and cannot. but express
our anxiety for its welfare. It is sin.
cerely hoped that the two hundred
million women Of this country will
awaken to the Importance Of their.
duty and follow the lead OF the pa.
triotic men by petitioning the govern:
ment for the restoration of a mon.
archy.' sJ
vernacular papers contain reports
Of associations of women organizing
In various Chinese cities, and there are
repeated efforts Of the rival organza.
lions to discount each others strength.
Apparently there Is little fear OF Ii;
bel In the Chinese papers, as communi:
rations are printna ---''tich make di:
rect attacks on 3 - charac:
ter OF womenaIe 4 * ~, z z;