The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-06-26
WHY SHOULD j.
WOMEN VOTE?
WoMAN'S SUFFRAGE FROM THE
VIEWPOINT OF LEADING !
- ---.. FARMERS. - !

~. -
Why should women vote? That is
the question that Is ringing from
ocean to ocean and reverberating from
the Canadian boundary to the Mexi-
can border. 1t is the mission of a
newpaper 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
gapized plowmen. We reproduce in
part the argument presented by Hon.
w. D. Lewis, president Of the Texas
Farmers Union. in opposing the bill:
1T is gratifying to note that 1t 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. It is, as a rule,
the city woman promoted to idleness
by prosperity, who is leading the sui.
fragette movement
From many stapdpoints. 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 man;
she has as much right to shoulder a
m Bt as man, but we would rather
she would not do so from choice
and we regret that necessity ofttimes
compels her to earn a living by en-
gaging in gainful occupations. We do
not consider misfortune a qualifca-
tion for suffrage or business acci-
dent a reason for granting franchise.
We are opposed to woman at the
ballot box the same as we are 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 Unsexlne Humanity.
sex qualification for suffrage may
have its apparent inconsistencies. No
general rule adjusts itself perfectly
to all conditions. It is a favorite ar
gument advanced by the proponents of
suffrage that many cultivated
and noble women are far more capa-
BILE of intelligently exercising SOW
ereignty than a worthless negro, but
the South never was anxious for
negro suffrage, and while culture and
refinement, and even morality, are
desirable virtues, they are not the
only qualifications for franchise.
1.-THE primary, inherent and insep-
arabic fitness for suffrage is supports
ing a family. The plow handle, the
'orge and the struggle for bread at
ord experience necessary to properly
mark the ballot. Government is a
great big business and civilization
rom the very beginning assigned
the home and man the bust,
less affairs of life.
There has been much freakish leg
station enacted during the past de-
:ade that no doubt appeals to woman's
owe for the ridiculous, but to UNDER
axe to unsex the human race by law
8 the height of legislative folly and
tragedy to mankind.
I'VE are opposed to the equal rights
Il woman-we want her to ever re,
main our superior. We consider
voman's desire to seek mans lever
he yellow peril Of Twentieth Century
Woman Is the medium through
which angels whisper their messages
o mankind; it Is her hand that plants
houghts in the intellectual vineyard:
Is through her heart that hope, love
nd sympathy overflow and bless man
Ind. Christ-the liberator of woman.
satisfied to teach the lessons
I life and He was man. He chose
rule over human hearts and re.
used worldly power and men followed
fter Him, women washed His feet.
title children climbed upon His knees
nd the Ruler of the universe said