The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-07-01
V|||III 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 reverberating from
the Canadian boundary to the Mexi-
can border, 1t is the mission Of a
newpaper 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 or
ganlZed ploWmen. We reproduce in
part the argument presented by Hon.
". D. Lewis, president Of the Texas
Farmers Union, il opposing the bill:
1T is gratifying to note that it is
not the farmers wife who is clamoring
for the ballot. She is too busy
trying to make happier homes, mold
Ing the minds OF future citizens and
sharing with her husband the cares
CT 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. It is. as q rule,
the city woman promoted to idleness
by prosperity, who is leading the suf-
fragette movement
From many standpoints, perhaps
q woman has as much right to vote
IS q man. SO has she as much right
to pow as a man; she has as much
right to work in factory as a man;
she has as much right to shoulder a
musket as man, but we would rather
she would not DO so from choice
and we regret that necessity ofttimes
c0mrels her to earn living by en-
gaging in gainful Occur ations. We do
| not consider misfortune a uuaIifica-
| ton for suffrage or : business acci-
| 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 Unsexing Humanity.
Sex qualification for suffrage may
have its APPARENT Inconsistencies. No
general rule adjusts itself perfectly
to all conditions It is q favorite ar
/ gument advanced by the proponents Of
woman S suffrage that many cultivated
and noble women are far more capa-
bic Of lntclliGently exercising soy
fIy 41on I. loo
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 flancIlise
THE primary, Inherent and insep-
arabic fitness for suffrage is support
ing a family. The pIow handle. the
forge and the struggle for bread at
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 busi-
ness affairs of life
There has been much freakish leg
isl2ticn enacted during the past de-
cade that 10 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
3 tragedy to mankind.
eve are opposed to the equal rights
Of 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 message
to mankind; it 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 Iiberator Of woman
kind-Was satisfied to teach the lessons
Of life and He was man. He chose
to 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
Can woman find q higher calling?"