The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-04
SUFFRAGE VOICE
Weak, SHE SAYS
Mrs. Stoddard Asserts Ballot
Arguments Have Been
Talked to Death.
BULWARKS IN WRECKACE
All Catch Phrases and Slogans Have
Been Silenoed. Says Oppo-
nent to Vote.
~ MRS. JOSEPH N. sToDDARD.

Opposed to Woman Suffrage.
1t takes much more labor, effort,
and influence to refute An original
statement than it does to make it
During the last year the woman SUI
fragists have about reached the end
Of their original misstatements, and
and much telling work, have sue
ceeded in catching up with them and
In refuting with incontrovertible facts
the suffrage theories and propaganda
which have been 60 misleading to the
public at large. One by one, the suf-
frage bulwarks have come crashing to
the ground, and from the wreckage
there is not much left for them to
build on. Their taxation without rep
rights" non-voters classed with
idiots and criminals" liquor interests
opposing suffrage, working woman's
need of the vote, etc, have all been
knocked into a cooked hat. An in
sistent accumulation Of authoritative
facts, and the educational work. pur-
sued by womanly, and almost silent,
methods by their opponents, have re-
futed every one Of these catch phrases
and suffrage slogans time after time.
Put Up to Voters.
Throughout the country each State
and county recognizes the ability and
wisdom of its citizens 20 settle to the
ultimate good of all the vexing prob
lens which constantly confront them.
So we see State after State giving
the suffrage question to the people for
decision. Right here some fussy
feminist will remark that it will not
be decided by the people," that "wom-
on are people," and half the people,
whereas only the mon will vote on
the question. OF course. we know
the votes of men do not represent the
voice of tho people" to the suffra-
cists. but as they have always re-
fused to approve referendum to the |
women alone on this question-for |
very obvious reasons-this point is !
rather far-fetchcd. They would prefer |
10 win the vote by their indirect in |
huence" on few congressman and |
Senators-and get the ballot in spite !
OF the votes or opinions of any one |
hut suffragis but in this event the |
indirect influence" of women will be |
felt more strongly than ever. which is |
a great suffrage worry. What man
who votes oil this question in the |
campaign States this year will go to
the polls uninnuenced by some wom
ans opinion on this subject: Is il not
81 gnificant that the two States, Neva-
ta and Montana. which Endorsed suf-
frage last November by small majori-
ties-less than 5000 votes for the two
with a feminine population Of less
than 100000 and a total population OF
less than 100000. have the smallest
of women to men in the
United States: Nevada has eco men
TO every 100 women. Montana 1S9 men
10 every 100 women. The five States
hat turned suffrage down have over
1".eop0o Inhabitants. and a ratio Of
only los 10 142 men to every 100
women. Where the most women were
suffrage lost overwhelming
~. Its the women the suffra gists
said. when Ohio defeated votes for
women last November for the second
time by $4,000 majority. and they
we're right, for once.
Women Whose Opinions Count.
The women whose opinions are be-
ng given the preference and folSowed
On this issue by the men are not
hose who have taken up industrial
work. either through necessity or vo- S
ition, not the tax-paying women rep |
but one In every eight, nor (
he exceptional women who stand out {
rom the crowd, but the women who
preside over the 100000 American 9
ZONES, the great ma jority of them do {
ng their own homework and rearing s
hildren along lines that produce flu
ure high standards of motherhood {
md manliness from which good gov
rnment and happiness will neces-
arily proceed. Self-control, rever-
nee, obedience, honesty and morality
annot be enforced by laws and pollti- I
al machinery If they are not engraft- ]
d in early childhood and impressed
Ipon the years of youthful develop /
nent. e
The opinion of these women upon
he bones of which the very founda-
ions Of our nation rest. will be the {
cling factor in this disturbing ques- 4
ion of today. The woman in the s
ONE, with her growing family about n
err. is tho normal woman. 1t is she t
no beholds with true vision and clear u
Judgment the needs of herself and her c
anlily. She does not need a woman
hrust into an abnormal position,
-ithout family and outside of the Q
ONE, to tell her what she must have,
hat she must do; or above all, that .
he must add 10 her responsibilities
ballot to protect" herself from the e
ian to whom she has given her trust Q
nd confidence for all time.
w. SaHraEists Forget. =
Surely she can feel safe in leaving Il
) him the technicalitfes Of politics.
scure and confident in his Judgment fl
" her benefit in this respect, whom b
,e must SO vitality depend on in other ic
alters of common good to their II
imily. The suffragist seems to ut "
'rly forget that the men who work D.
n the just treatment Of their wives, o.
others and sisters whom they love II
re working just as much for the e,
omen who are outside Of the family. q
nd in the name of all woman, and In
lat they will all equally share the tc
.nefts of the remedial legislation "a
lat men are SO eager to obtain for z:
leir own feminine relatives. IG
There is scarcely q STATE in our s,
Mon where women are not specially
-tvfleged by law. What becomes OF -
10 equal rights" proposition IL they k
'ceive the vote upon this basis and
4 refuse to give up these privileges
i'd continue to work for even greater a,
les? Can there be any question of -
equality" Of the sexes between men NJ,
Id women when their very differ n,
ices OF nature and. effort utterly ex- a.
ude euch a proposition? What did a.
'ssie Hardy Stubs mean to infer ~
hen she said that 1t was simply by ~,
lance that she was a woman. and e..
at had she had any say about IL she W.
ould have been q man? Does this not Il ,
flute the question of eclality-her be
pudiation and resentment Of her SER ",
Il the sexes are equal who do -
many suffragists express q prefer ~
ce for mans naturef II they are 20 a
nhdent that the vote II bound to IM
70 49, "a II