Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-04-10
Mrs. Donaldson's
Position on Suffrage
Beautifully Defined

Please, may l at last, say some
thing myself about that far-echoing
Suffrage Debate, and please may
first of all, most earnestly beg that
no one regard the outcome as any per-
sonal triumph?
The vote was not given to Mrs.
Donaldson but to the matter which
spoke for itself though presented by
one hitherto inexperienced and avoid
ing argument until thus compelled,
nor have l any feeling of triumph but
only the wish that l might have done
| better.
l don't want any personal note en-
tering into this matter whether from
suffragists or non-suffragists.
We are all friends working and
playing together, and without the
spirit of love, harmony and tolerance
we cannot effect the good in our COM
munity which l know we all really
desire whether we are working for
it one way or another or even not
working at all.
Never have l seriously considered
the matter Of suffrage among my &C
quaintances but since we have been
obliged to face this question ION mo-
ton made by suffragist men), I am
surprised to find through voluntary
expressions on the part of those OPP
| posed to suffrage, how many there
are!
There could be a big organization
were it not that "antis" are 10th to
organize for the same reason they
are 10th to vote, in that it induces
party or opposition spirit and takes
time and attention that can be better
spent on the many duties already de-
handing our attention.
| merely state this as answering
the remark that night about the
scarcity of "antis" in this town.
There was much which there was not
time to answer that night.
In regard to speakers for the De-
bate may l say that Mrs. Darby was
anxious to take part but her friends
well know that she has been under
going severe illness and many nervous
shocks and was forbidden by two
physicians.
Mrs. Whitaker, always strong
Anti, whose city address l failed to
secure, never received my letters
| until after the debate as she was ill
in city sanatarium.
Fifteen of my Anti friends VINO
| were best fitted to speak and who are
among our best educated women,
knew, by experience, to be reluctant
to speak on any subject and certainly
not in public debate, although most
capable and active in our religious,
| philanthropic and civic work.
The statement in last weeks "Pali-
| sadian" about my feeling lack of
support" was probably due to the
| fact that l have asked four or five
very Anti men why they were not
out that night to give moral sup
port. All had excellent reasons, two
being ill with grip.
Which friend wrote that article,
| Mr.. Editor?
| Some of US feel this vital subject
strongly from one viewpoint, some
from the other, and only one side has
hitherto asserted itself.
| Why not give the other side, the
quiet side, a fair chance, without pre-
JUDGE, and seize all opportunities for
an educational presentation of the
matter, and weigh the doubtful good
against the sure harm to our own
State with it's tremendous population
of those who are not in accord with
the best American traditions of So
ciety and government, with it's condi-
tions so different from western states,
not to mention the harm to womanly
character in the partizan or cor
rupting spirit?
l believe in and want the full school
vote as outside of politics and closely
affecting our children, but the more
l read and ponder on universal suf-
frage, the more seriously l feel that
as anti-saloon and anti-slavery move
ments result in the highest good and
happiness for our fellow creatures, so
also does that of anti-suffragism.
Nevertheless there are good and
noble on both sides.
Many of us recently learned the
beautiful lesson of "The Terrible
Meek" Why do we women seek
through the strife of politics and
party that which we can so much
better obtain in the gentle, Christian,
unselfish way?
Very truly yours,
Eta Beekman Donaldson.
| (Mrc GaorUo\