The Washington times., 1915-10-25
Why l Am q Suifragist.


am an equal suffragist because
really think I am democrat and
look forward hopefully to a day
when we shall have In this country a
complete democracy. in which all
shall have a voice: government by
all Of us. for all of us. and Of all OF
US. Amen. a-women.
am n suffraEist because l believe
in evolution and am unwilling to
struggle against the inevitable. l
think can recognize a wall when
! sec one. and. moreover. can read
the writing on it. Woman having
eaten the apple. gone to school. en-
tered the factory. and all the rest OF
it. it is IN reason that she will event
Ually vote.
The old order may have been hap
pier. But the old order changeth.
And although in periods Of change
there Is always confusion. have
confidence that almost everything In
this funny old world works out for
good. What was curious and doubt
ful yesterday has a way OF becom-
ing COMMONPLACE and all right to-
morrow.
Man has found his place fairly we'll
in the new order: woman will find
here. In the old order there WAS
equitable division of labor. 1t IL
now truism that a large part OF
what was formerly woman's work
has been taken away from her by
the factory. the apartment house.
and the department store. The pres
ent desire on the part of many wom-
en- of enforced leisure for a greater
share in the work and the govern
ment of the world is n wholesome
desire. II is instructive rebellion
against degcncratinE idleness and
usefulness.
am a suffragist. not because I
think American women arc or ever
were slaves" but because l think
there Is danger that they may be-
come slaves--to dress and beauty"
and war paint The danger Is no
longer that women may become
short haired mnless short hair hap
pened to be the fashion, and strong
minded. but quite the reverse. Men
have more reason to be worried
about the menace to society Of the
women who are kept busy supply
ing beauty and supplying charm las
in the story OF "Angela's Business'D
then OF the women who want to vote
and be useful.
believe In woman suffrage be-
"ause 1t would give even the So
called undesirable" women n vote,
Rnd.by that much furnish basis Tor
ECtf-s stoem. | once read AZ an hrgu-
nnent against suffrage for women
that one Of these "undesirablcs," on
being asked what she would do with
n vote II she had one replied Good
God! I'd sell 1t and take vacation
But there is one worse thing than
selling a vote. as every man knows,
and that is having no vote to sell.
I am suffragist despite ttresome
speeches and borcsome meetings:
in spite Of uncnding subscriptions
and tickets to buy. and literature"
tons OF 10 to distribute and to read.
and committee meetings TO attend
and streets to canvass. and buttons
10 wear. and flags and bunting. and
teas and balls. and "hikcs" and pa
radcG. and pictures Of prominent SUI
fragists in tho ncwspaperS!
put, oh, Whatc a waste of time
and energy and mOney-like the war;
And what modification to be forever
compelled 10 lie nuisRnces: to have
TO perform and bark before the Gov
"tcd morsel is given: 10 have to give
assurances over and over again mat
''I'rntty Polly wants tho cracker"
before Polly gets tho cracker.
All womon will probably VOt" some
d,,V. Why not now" Amen.
H-WOmcn.
am sufcragIst because of the
rrirnglc fire IN New York city, in
which nearly 200 girl garment work
crs lost their lives. Can one ever
|"rg"t tn" picture Of thos" Young
girls in thc blazing windows. caught
IL" rats in II trap. but un, onscious-
y Tuo,h!ng their hnir and adjust
'uC tNc!r dress hcfo'r lcapiuG to
'loulh% r,tsht be In favor Of u
movement 10 prevent women from
going into industry, or for taking
them out Of II; but since there they
are, and apparently there TO stay.