The Pageland journal. [volume] (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978, 1915-06-16
uHY SHOULD !
W0MEN v0TE2"
fAN's SUFFRAGE FROM THE
IHiEWPoINT OF LEADING
IA FARMERs.

~ should women vote! That -
question that is ringing from
- to ocean and reverberating from
canadian boundary to the Me1i-
border 1t 10 the mission OF .
paper to give the news and the
on OF the Texas Farmers Union
Rposing woman's suffrage when
question was recently before the
legislature is significant as
osenting the attitude Of the or
ned plowmen. We reproduce in
the argument presented by Hon.
SM y. Lewis. president of the Texas
'Farmers' Union. In opposing tho bill:
.""It is gratifying to note that it is
not the farmers wife who Is clamoring
for the ballot. She IL 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. 1t is, as a rule,
the city woman promoted to idlsness
by prosperity. who is leading the suf-
fragette movement
From many standpoints, perhaps
q woman has as much right to vote
as man. So has she as much right
TO plow as a man; she has as much
right to work In a factory as q mau;
she has as much right to shoulder q
masket as a man, but We would rather
sne would not do SO from choice
and we regret that necessity ofttimes
compels her to earn a living by en-
sA9ing In gainful occupations. We do
not consider misfortune a Qualifica-
ton for suffrage or a business acoi-
dent reason for granting franchise.
We are opposed to woman at the
ballot box the same a. We arc op.
posed to woman in the field, In tho
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 al much
right to do one as the other.
Opposed to unsexino Humanity.
sex qualification for suffrage may
, have it's apparent inconsistencies. No
general rule adjusts itself perfectly
to all conditions. 1t Is q favorite ar.
gument advanced by the proponents of
oman's suffrage that many cultivated
3lld dupr1r woEnssi afo fA< .rssrv-vuysss
Bile OF intelligently exercising sov.
ereignty than 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-
arable fitness for suffrage is support
ing family. The plow handle. the
forge and the struggle for bread at
ford experience necessary to properly
mark the ballot. Government Is .
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
tragedy to mankind.
I'VE are opposed to the equal rights
or woman-we want her to ever re-
main our superior. We consider
woman's desire to seek mans level
the yellow peril Of Twentieth Century
civilization.
Woman Is the medium through
which angels whisper their messages
20 mankind: 1t Is her hand that plants
thoughts In the intellectual vineyard;
It is through her heart that hope, love
and sympathy overflow and bless man.
kind. Christ-the liberator Of woman
kind-was satisfied to teach the lessons
Of life and He was q man. He chose
% rule over human hearts and re.
fused worldly power and men followed
after Him, women washed His feet,
little children climbed upon His knees
and the Ruler Of the universe said
that In Him He was we'll pleased.