The Pageland journal. [volume] (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978, 1915-06-16
why SHOULD !
WOMEN VOTE?
l3MAN'S SUFFRAGE FROM THE
.vIEWPoINT OF LEADING
FARMERS.

Why should women vote? That -
f4e question that is ringing from
49ean to ocean and reverberating from
&he Canadian boundary to the Me1i-
Sepn border. 1t Is the mission OF q
;44Epaper to give the news and the
.Qotion OF the Texas Farmers Union
opposing woman's suffrage when
III question was recently before the
exhs legislature is significant as
eSpresenting the attitude OF the or
mixed plowmen. We reproduce in
part the argument presented by Hon.
". d. Lewis. president of tho Texas
; Farmers Union, In opposing the bill:
1T is gratifying to note that it is
not the farmers wife who Is clamoring
for the ballot She is 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 to the home
additional comforts, conveniences or
opportunities in life. 1t is, as a rule,
the city woman promoted to idlsness
by prosperity. who is leading the suf-
frasette movement
From many standpoints, perhaps
q woman has as much right to vote
as man. So has she as much right
to plow as man; she has as much
right to work In factory as a mau;
she has as much right to shoulder q
masket as man, but we would rather
sne would not do so from choice
and we regret that necessity ofttimes
compels her to earn a living by en-
saging In sainful occupations We do
not consider misfortune a qualifica-
ton for suffrage or a business acoi-
dent reason for granting franchise.
We are opposed to woman at the
ballot box the same a. we arc op-
posed to woman in the field, in the
factory or in the army and for the
self-same reasons. We had rather
see her plant flowers than SOW wheat;
gather bouquets than pick cotton and
rear children than raise political Is
sues. although she may have as much
right to DO one as the other.
Opposed to UnsexIna Humanity.
Sex qualification for suffrage may
have its apparent Inconsistencies. No
I general rule adjusts itself perfectly
I to all conditions. 1t is q favorite ar.
1gument advanced by the proponents Of
Koman's suffrage that many cultivated
n40 nUDlo woniGu aro- fs.r .1soro-xsl
bic OF intelligently exercising SOW
ereignty than worthless negro, but
the South never was anxious for
n negro suffrage, and while culture and
refinement. and even morality, are
! desirable virtues, they are not the
only qualifications for franchise.
The primary, inherent and insep-
arabic fitness for suffrage ia support
ing family. The plow handle, the
forge and the struggle for bread af-
ford experience necessary to properly
mark the ballot. Government Is q
great big business and civilization
from the very beginning assigned
woman the home and man the bust.
ness affairs Of life
There has been much freakish lee-
islation enacted during the past de-
cade that no doubt appeals to woman's
love for the ridiculous, but to under.
take to unsex the human race by law
Is the height OF legislative folly and
q tragedy to mankind.
I'VE are opposed to the equal rights
or woman-we want her to ever re-
main our superior. We consider
woman's desire to seek mans level
the yellow peril of Twentieth Century
civilization.
woman Is the medium through
which angels whisper their messag ages
to mankind; 1t is her hand that plants
thoughts In the intellectual vineyard;
It Is through her heart that hope, love
and sympathy overflow and bless man.
kind. Christ-the liberator Of woman
kind-was satisfied to teach the lesson.
Of life and He was a man. He chose
70 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 He was we'll pleased.
Can woman find higher calling?"