The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-06-04
VOTES FOR WOMEN

| have been an advocate of wom-
ans suffrage for many years.
am proud of the fact that my mother
and only sister live in a state which
has unlimited suffrage the state of
Oregon. / am sure that state has
not suffered at the hands of the
women, neither has the citizenship
deteriorated on account of their hav-
ing had the right to vote.
From 1898 to 1902 served as
city clerk in the city of Lafayette,
Ind. 1t was my duty to make out
the tax duplicates for the city,
There | found a very substantial
reason why women should be permit
ted to vote. Many women in that
city carry a considerable burden of
taxation. Yes, II is a case of taxa
tion without representation"
Women the country over are bread
winners. They have taken their
positions in the business world and
they ought to have the right to give
expression at the polls on the things
that affect them.
IF WOMEN CAN TEACH MEN,
WHY NOT VOTE?
| think l am safe in saying 80 per
cent of the teachers in the graded
and high schools are women. They
are prepared to instruct the youth
and to fit them for higher education.
Is it not good reasoning to suppose
they know as much or more about the
fundamentl principles of government
than do the men? If this be true,
then why are they not entitled to
equal suffrage with men?
We have three classes of people in
the states which have not adopted
equal suffrage who are not entitled
to vote, namely, idiots, criminals
persons convicted for crime and in
carcerated in the jails and peniten-
tiaries, and who in some instances
are disfranchised on account of
crimes committed-a women.
l am in favor of taking the women
Of the state of Indiana out of this
class and putting them where they
rightfully belong, on absolute equal
ity with men.
| am opposed to those who are re-
sponsible for women not having the
right to vote You will find these
opponents to suffrage representing
the special interests of the country,
The strongest force in our state
against suffrage is the liquor inter
est. This same interest is against
all progressive legislation. These
are the men who take the position
that women are not properly educat-
ed to vote on questions of govern
ment. This is not their real reason.
If you could get a brewer or distiller
or a saloon keeper to tell you his
real reason it would be that women
with equal suffrage, would put him
out of business.
My opinion of equal suffrage has
been strengthened within the last
few weeks. When the women's suff-
rage bill passed the senate a few
weeks ago, the following Sunday
evening after the passage of this bill,
the opponents of women's suffrage
came to indianapolis from all parts
of the state.
AS l sat in the lobby of one of the
leading hotels that Sunday evening
and the following Monday evening
and studied that crowd, / thought
what a wonderful opportunity the
democratic party had if that party
would only take advantage of it. The
democrats could have traded the
brewers and distillers and those who
profit on account of the liquor traffic
for the support of the women of the
state of Indiana.
think the rank and file of the
democratic party of the state of In
diana were, during the Legislature,
and are now, in favor Of making this
exchange. But the special interests
with the assistance of those charged
with political power in the state op-
pose such amalgamation.- james
Kirby Risk in the Indiana Daily
Times.
Made since 1846-Hanford's Bal