New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-29
VOTING BY SPECIES"
Errors of the Ants Exposed in
Quasi Scientific Fashion.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: This is the ant-suifrage premise
and predicament: Men and women are
radically different.
! Species differ radically, but not genera.
Between the species hemlocks and frs there
are greater differences than between the
two main divisions Of plant life Between
species of men vaster difference exists than
between men and women. There is greater
difference between conservative and radical,
native and foreign vote, rich and poor, than
between men and women. Where shall we
stop discriminating because of radical diff
ferences"? And does not biology command
us to merge radical differences as we merge
the blood of nations?
Suppose men and women are radically diff
ferent. Voting is not function OF species,
male or aristocrat. AS proof the voter IS
limited to chasing himself generlcally: as
this policy right or wrong?" Never has one
technical question been submitted TO the
voter. Never an issue but what was the ex-
elusive function of the finer human feelings
to decide Voting is patriotic duty" l. e.
generic function. We submit constitu-
tional amendments to ali. not to a Legislature
or the specially qualified because voting is
not a function of species.
Voting is a function Of the generic mind.
The fundamentals of mind in order Of devel-
opment are feeling, relationing, instinct. The
definition of mind as formulated by Herbert
Spencer forever excludes the anti's doctrine
of "unftness" mind is composed of feel
ngs and the relation between feelings" We
Task: How do you feel toward this or thatT'
Higher intelligence everywhere is a play Of
finer feelings Mind is essentially feminine
in it's composition. And the basic elements
Of mind-feelng and right relationing are
the generic and the exclusive requisites in
voting. And yet that sex in which the two
elements of mind are more highly devel-
oped is peculiarly unified"
Out of feelings and their relatioring arise
Natures master stroke-the sense of direc-
ton, or instinct What if women don't build
cities-they have the directive instinct to
give origin to the tenement laws. | don't
have to be Gamer before demanding the
omission of injurious benzoates. Can the
Congress that passed the pure food laws
lanalyZe a can of peas? Even infant is
entitled TO its little protest against sour
milk without being quizzed on the formation
or ldctlc acld out OF ldctOSe. ms IS because
of this generic directive instinct-the in
stnct of right and wrong, the exclusive con-
Germ of voting.
If this directive instinct grows out of the
fundamentals of mind it is the common pos
session OF the human genera. Ii is de-
Imocracy's endowment. Radical differences do
exist between the directive and executive
species. And here lies the antis predica-
ment, his boomerang: The executive species
whom alone the anti would allow TO vote
are usually without this directive, creative in
stinct
The actor can seldom write play, or
the critic great book, or the wise and
prudent" understand, or the bookkeeper man
lge the firm. The anti has made artificial
differences but overlooked the vital one-the
diverging functions of the directive and
executive species The directive classes are
better voters than the executive, and the
executive better managers. The issue is:
Shall women cooperate IN directing the exec
utive classes, especially as women's sense Of
direction is if anything superior TO mans?
All the ballot does is TO decide the course
which the executive and technical classes in
office shall pursue. 1t no more follows that
they should don the fremsn's or soldiers
helmet than that the soldier should as
incidentally have a dozen votes to my one
because they are executors; or that the EN-
ployed steel chemist should have more voice
than director in the corporation.
Consider it inductively How is that choice
monopoly, the especially fitted" making out?
How fares their alleged sense OF direction +?
II there is any mystical information needed
only sociologiSts should hold Office; on
questions OF tariff only importers and manu-
iacturers should vote; on currency issues
only bankers. But the professors are usually