Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-08
WHY SHOULD
WOMEN VOTE?
WoMAN,s SUFFRAGE FROM THE
VIEWPOINT or LEADING
FARMERS.

Why should women vote? That is
the question that Is ringing from
ocean to ocean and reyerberating from
the Canadian boundary to the Mexi.
can border. II is the mission of
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 or
ganized plOwmen We reproduce In
part the argument presented by Hon.
w d. Lewis, president Of the Texas
Farmers Union, in opposing the bill:
III Is gratifying to note that 1t is
not the farmers wife who Ia clamoring
for the ballot, She Ia 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 idleness
by prosperity, who is leading the suf-
fragette movement
From many standpoints, perhaps
woman has as much right to vote
as a man. So has she as much right
to pillow as man: she has as much
right to work In factory as man;
she Mas as much right to shoulder
muSfet as 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 qualifica-
ton for suffrage or business acct
dent reason for granting franchise.
We are opposed to woman at the
ballot box the same as we are OPP.
posed to woman In the Held, 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
IN all conditions N Ia a favorita ar
gument advanced by the proponents of
woman's suffrage that many cultivated
and noble women are far more capa-
BILE of intelligently exercising SOW.
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-
arabic fitness for suffrage is support
ing 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 $
love for the ridiculous, but to under.
take TO uasex the human race by law
is the height of legislative folly and
a tragedy to mankind
We 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 messages
| to mankind II Is her hand that plants
| thoughts In the intellectual vineyard /;
| 1t Is through her heart that hope. love
| aud sympathy overflow and bless man,
kind, Christine liberator 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