New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-24
A QUESTION OF NUMBERS
The Women Suffragists Are a Majority
Here, This One Insists.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The most common objection TO
woman suffrage that we see in print and
hear public men give to-day is women DO
not want it," or "the majority Of women DO
not want IT,"
The other evening, at dinner, speaker
said: "Only 10 per cent of the women OF
this country are asking for the ballot.
These statements. so misleading. have
been corrected by suffragists over and over
again, but they recur with such lnslstehce
that we must continue TO answer tnem'
The speaker at the dinner admitted that
the 10 per cent who want the ballot are in
tellectual women, representative women
thinkers.
The superiority of the women who are
asking for the ballot seems everywhere to
be admitted.
Is it not this class that most influence
the attitude of other women?
Abraham Lincoln, Charles sumner ana
Wendell Phillips advocated the adoption OF
woman suffrage when but a minority OF
women wanted it. They compare, | believe,
in Judgment with the public men who are
raising the objection about "maJoritles' TO-
day.
If men extend the franchise to women in
the belief that only minority OF women
want it they will not violate any principle
of legislation in the past for when have
men ever consulted the majority Of women
as to any measure involving the interests OF
women?
To quote from Charlotte Perkins Gilman:
otis such a tender thoughtfulness
SO exquisite a care!
Not 10 pile on our fair shoulders what
We do not wish TO bear!
But, oh! most generous brother,
Let US look a little more
Have we women always wanted
What you gave to US before"
In the states where men have thrown
"chivalry TO the winds" and placed the bur
den of the franchise upon women. are the
women uprising and asking to have it re-
moved? They could do so by means of the
initiative and referendum. In those states
women have the legal right to decide the
question.
The question Of equal suffrage in this
state is not cup TO the women" as some
men state it. but il is up to the men"
majority of women cannot decide IT,
Only majority OF men can 90 SO IN lhls
one-sided democracy.
Women do want the ballot
Woman suffrage has been Endorsed by the
International Council of Women, total mem
bership of 100000; the National Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs, representing over
100000 women; the National Education
Association, the International Council OF
Nurses, the state oranges. the National
Women's Trade Union League, the Worlds
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the
National Purity Conference and the Great
Hive, Ladies of the Modern Maccabe.s.
What better proof can we offer that
women want it?
As TO the sentiment in New York State,
there came to my notice in paper the fol-
lowing report:
"Of LILO women interviewed in Glens
Falls, y. Y. 1883 declared themselves def
ntely favorable TO woman suffrage"
These figures are significant. No doubt
the whole state had not then been can
vassed, but these figures show what the re-
suits OF campaign of education may do.
The men OF this state need not fear that
they are meeting the wishes OF a minority
when they vote for woman suffrage in No
vember Miss B. c. HOWARD.
New York. Feb 20. 1915.