The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1915-07-07
WHY SHOULD
WOMEN VOTE?
WoMAN's SUFFRAGE FROM THE
VIEWPOINT OF LEADING
FARMERS.

Why should women votos That Is
the question that is ringing from
ocean TO ocean and reyerberatlng from
the Canadian boundary to the Mexi.
can border. 1t is the mission OF a
newspaper to give the news and the
action OF the Texas Farmers Union
in opposing woman's suffrage when
that question was recently before the
Texas legislature is significant as
representing the attitude Of the or
ganized plowmen. We reproduce in
part the argument presented by Hon
w. d. Lewis, president OF the Texas
Farmers Union. in opposing the bill:
ut is gratifying to note that 1t is
not the farmers wife who lie olsmoring
FOR tho ballot. She lie too busy
trying to make happier homes, mold.
Ing the minds OF future citizens and
sharing with her husband the cares
of life to indulge in political gossip.
The ballot Will give her no relief from
drudgery, give no assistance IN cloth.
ing the children or bring 10 tho home
additional comforts, conyenlences or
opportunities in life 1t is. rs a rule.
the city woman promoted to ldleness
by prosperity, who is leading the suf.
frngetto movement
From many standpoints, perhaps
a woman has as much right to vote
ns man. So has she as much right
to pillow ss man. sho has nc much
right 70 work In O factory as man:
she has as much right to shoulder
musket as q man. but we would rather
she would not do so from choice
and We regret that necessity Outlines
oompelH her 10 earn living By en-.
gazing in gninful occupations. We do
not consider misfortune quallfca.
ton for suffrage or n business acct.
dent reason for granting franchise
We are opposed to woman at the
ballot box the same. as We are op
posed to woman iu the field. in tho
fnctory or In tho army and for tho
eelf-same reasons We had rather
zee her plant flowers than SOW wheat;
gather bouquets than pick cotton and
rear children than raise political Is.
sues. although she may havo as much
right 70 do one as the other.
Opposed to unsexlng Humanity.
sex qualification for Suffrage MAY
have It's apparent Inconsistencies No
general rule adjusts itself perfectly
TO all conditions It IS a fayorite ar
sumeut advanced by The proponents OF
woman's suffrage that many cultivated
ana noble women arc far more capa.
bic of intelligently exercising SOW.
ereignty than a worthless negro but
the South never was anxious for
negro suffrage. aud while culture and
refinement, and even morality, ara
desirable virtues. they are not the
only qualifications for franchise
THE primary. inherent and insop
arabic fitness for suffrage is support
ing family, The picw handle. the
forge and the struggle for bread uf.
ford experience necessary 10 properly
mark tho ballot Government is a
great big business and civilization
from the very beginning assigned
woman the homo and man the bust.
ness affairs of life
There has been much frsnkieh leg.
ialaton enacted during tbs past de
cade that nc doubt appeals TO woman's
love Tor the ridiculous. but to under.
take To unsex the human race by law
is the height Of legislative folly and
tragedy is mankind.
we are opposed to the equal rights
OF woman--we want her to ever re.
main our superior we consider
woman's desiro to seek mans level
the yellow peril of Twentieth Century
civilization
Woman iH tho medium through
which angels whisper their messages
10 monk'nd; It is her hand that plants
thoughts in the intellectual vineyard;
It IS through her heart that hopo. lovo
and sympathy overflow and bless man
kind. Chrlst-the liherator of woman
hnd-was satisfied to teach the lessons
OF life and He was man He chose
to rule over human hearts and re.
fused worldly power and men followed
after Him, women washed His feet.
little children climbed upon His knees
and the Ruler OF the universe said
that in Him lie WAS we'll pleased.
Can woman find Il higher calllng?"
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