The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1915-06-18
WHY should
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 re~verberating from
the Canadian boundary to the Next
can border. 1t is the mission of a
Newspaper 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 OF.
ganized 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 it is
not the farmers wife who is clamorine
for the ballot. She is toe 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, o%onveniences or
opportunities in life. 1t is, as a rule,
the city woman promoted to idleness
by prosperity, who is leading the suf-
fragette movement.
From many %standpoints, perhaps
a woman has as much right to vote
as a nan So has she as much right
to pillow as a man; she has as much
right to work in a factory as a man;
she has as much right to shoulder a
musket as a 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-
ton for suffrage Or a business acct.
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 Unsexlns Humanity.
sex qualification for suffrage may
have its apparent Inconsistencies. No
general rule adjusts itself perfect,
to all conditions. 1t is a ~favorite ar
gument advanced by the proponents o.
woman's suffrage that many cultivated
and noble m 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.
THE primary, inherent and insep.
arabic fitness for suffrage is support
ing a family. The pillow handle, the
forge and the struggle for bread af-
ford experience necessary to properly
mark the ballot. Government is a
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 leg.
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
a tragedy to mankind.
I'VE are opposed to the equal right:
of woman-we want her to ever re
main u superior, We consider
woman's desire to seek mans leve
the yellow peril Of Twentieth Century
civilization.
Woman is the medium through
which angels whisper their message.
to mankind; 1t is her hand that plants
thoughts in the intellectual vineyard
It is through her heart that hope, Low,
and sympathy overflow and bless mar
Kind. Christine liberator Of woman
dnd-was satisfied to teach the lesson
of life and He was a man. He chos
to rule we human hearts and re
fused worldly power and men follows
after Him, women washed His feel
little children climbed upon His knee
and the Ruler OF the universe sal
that in Him He was we'll pleased
Can woman find a higher calling?"