Milford chronicle., 1915-02-12
EQUAL SUFFRAGE ARGUMENTS.


The following article, signed by Georg,
B. Hynson of Milford, appeared in tbs
Morning News of Wilmington last Mon
day morning:
Editor Wilmington Morning News:
Sir-I notice that a number of ladies
of Wilmington, including a few from
other towns of the state, have presented
petition to the legislature praying that
the franchise be not granted to women.
The argument runs that woman is not
fit to exercise this sacred right. There
are also the names of a number of prOmi-
nent men to this petition who gallantly
subscribe to the doctrine that their
wives. daughters and sweethearts have
not sufficient capacity to be trusted with
the ballot. Many of these men having
/ been in politics know personally the very
high degree of intelligence and patriot
ism that is back of the ballot cast by
the average male voter, and they do not
care to lower the standard.
The petition of these women to the
legislature having been supplemented
by verbal pleas, it may be Illuminating
to follow their train of thought for our
enlightenment and when the argument
is weighed we shall probably conclude
that these women have made their point,
that in some respects they are not fit to
vote-at least some of them.
But what right have they to speak
for those women who do want to vote
and who can establish a reasonable de-
gree of intelligence By what authority
do they speak for thousands who per-
sonally do not want to vote. but who
regard it as their duty? We know of
many men who dislike politics, and loathe
election day, who nevertheless vote be-
cause of feeling of duty. If voting is
privilege. then give the franchise to
women and let those exercise it who
wish to do so /; if it is a duty then per- I
haps we should not only grant the fran
chise to all adults, but penalize those /
who fail to exercise it.
These ladies tell US that the right to .
vote is not right after all, but privi-
lege. This dictum has long been used
when there was no argument at hand.
But if it is privilege, who granted the
privilege? ? We have no king and the +.
government consists of all our male
population q years of age. Thus we
see that this privilege of voting the men
have granted to themselves.
We hear that a woman's place is at
home with her babies. (which had
you rather have, mothers or voters 2"
eXclaims an anti-suffragist orator. This
has the echo of our old boarding house:
will you have pudding or pie ?" The
answer is, "A little of both, please.
We don't see how any woman could
ease to be mother because she spends
! half hour once every two years to
asst her ballot. We don't believe that
nen generally cease to be good fathers
'ecause they vote occasionally.
But let US go back to the home and
hose babies. The mother is so devoted
o them that she has no time to vote.
o time to read about governmental
fairs, no time to think about social
uestions-no time for anything but her
abies. Certainly she isn't fit to vote
nd it is equally certain that she isn't a
t companion for her babies. An un-
,ttered Swede woman would do as well.
But in the nature of things these
abies will grow they will develop and
Ome to spend part of their time out
de of the home, and after while they
i'll leave the home nest and establish
ne for themselves. Now let US see
neither the mother need to know any,
hing but the care of babies and how to
)ok so as to tickle her husbands ap-
elite.
The mother first is concerned with
citing pure milk for her youngsters.
hat becomes a political question. In
ylng to safeguard the health of her
'usehold she wants pure foods. That
qulres governmental regulation. She
indies the money for household ex-
'nses, consequently she is interested
the economic side of government.
le tariff, the trusts, freight rates and
nilar questions affect her as much as
r husband.
Her children go to school and enter
to the social life of the community.
rhaps on the next street are brothels
llch her children are required to pass
lily, while over her hangs the constant
ar that the neighboring saloons will
t her boys. Suppose the streets are
'ty, the ashes not collected, the gar
ge rotting in cans, is this mother to
lsole herself that she knows of no
nedy, and declare that she wouldn't
p to apply it if she had the power 4?
)uld such woman be the mother of -
ong men and women of spirit? -
Noman's place may be in the home
we are told that the home is the
nerstone of our social structure.
is being true, should not the mistress ,
the home, its director and its presid-
genius have something to say a
1t all of our political questions which |
cern the home and those who dwell
rein?
iallant man has divided the race in
f according to sex. He has elected !
lself to govern and has signed that l
5 sufficient glory for the other half a
obey. And he tells the woman that S
ballot box is no place for her since
has permitted it to become so cor
t and debased that the contact :
lld soil her garments.
laybe the feminine, housekeeping in
let of woman iflturned to the ballot
would clean it up and make it a F
e more Attractive for decent men.
GEORGE B. HYNSON -
ford, Del, Feb. 5, 1915.