The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-29
TAXING THE M
An Antf's View on the Burden I'm.
posed by the Vote.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Str. The
sweeping. all embracing proposition. tax
alton without representation Is tyranny
referred to by MIR. Van Zile in THE Sun,
would never have been made a basic
issue" Of the American Revolution IT
the taxes collected from this country
had been expended for our benefit, as
the taxes imposed on women are now
used for their benefit.
Mr.. a Zile asks the question: rs
there a woman in this Commonwealth
h is not taxed indirectly" liz not
every woman who IL taxed Indirectly
or directly, indirectly represented? II Is
so strange that s~uffragists cannot see
that /! all women were eu~franchised ana
only \ per cent. paid taxes, the property
of these ~taxpaying women would not Ne
as we'll protected as when men only
voted. because the irresponsible vote
would he so greatly increased.
Where tho relaxation mentioiiA0 ny
Mr.. Van Lilc comes INTO the argument
IL not exactly clear. Does he mean TO
imply h "a anti-sufragists are only 10
he found among those who lead lives a
luxury and ease? Facts do not prove
this to be the case. The majority OF
working women do not desire the fran
chlse, having something else to do. while
the loudcst shrlcks for rights" come
from some of the richest women OF the
country. women 80 pampcred that they
think even the majority should yield 10
their every wish. Perhaps Mr.. Van lille
does not know that among arti-sunra-
gists il found a larger proportion ot
women nguged In philanthropic work
than there Is among s~ufragists. ana
that many of the best laws for the pro-
lection Of women and children have
been brought about through the infu-
enCe OF women who had no vote anu
wanted none. The idea that "ff one
woman In the state demanded the SUI
fragc' II should be imposed or all willy
nilly" is too foolish to discuss.
In reply to the letter of Mr.. Henry
Rood. in his enumerating OF the "equaI
rights which women already possess
he is presenting arguments from his
past standpoint as an anti (Which
he confesscs he once was) and wher
he talks of the "loyal women who are
~ Intelligent as their fathers, hus'
bands and brothers. he must not for
get that there is a large majority oi
equally loyal" and "intclligent" WON
ca vino do not feel the necessity OF 9
vote to awaken them TO a sense o.
'civic responsibility" who resent arc
resist having the franchise forced upor
them. and who believe their non-parti
sanship in politics too valuable an asse'
In their philanthropic work TO be Willing
t. relinqu!sh it simply to crafty tho
whim OF a minority which IL allied will
such forces az socialism,. Mormonlsin ant
feminism.
Nj. Rood fails to mention and appar
entity does not realize that at the same
time that these loyal and Intelligent
women" receive the franchise it will ais,
lie given to all sorts and conditions
~ women, some Of whom may be loyal
only IN tlplp Narinlg fatbgrlan1s TO
foreign women. even though they d;
not speak or read the English language
after one years residence here, IL theiI
husbands are Iaturalized, "a vote, an,
that too. without sw wearing allegiance q
this country. Complications might arts
II there were war between our countr,
and their native lands.
Mr.. Rood quotes Governor Carlson o
Colorado us favoring equal suffrage
Having won office partly through IN
votes OF women. II Is not likely nat h
would publicly bite the hand that feed
him" In his own home State. howeveg
In speaking Of the fact that though tn,
state of Colorado had been voted dry
Denver Insisted on home rule and wa
and liz decidedly wet Governor Carl
son IS quoted as saying substantial,
this to Dcnverites, that II they woul'
not keep the laws they themselves Ia,
made ohey ought 10 be living "unde
me red flag OF bomb throwers," n h
lldcd that no outside capital came int,
the state because OF its unstable govern
ment. These are some OF the benefit
OF woman suffrage under which Colo
RADIO has been living for t~wentythre
years.
Mr.. Rond's a e that anti-sufYragist
need not vote II they do not want 10
shows lack OF thought. II the fran
! Ch!Se is forced OH the women of hi
or any other state. II will then he IN
duty OF every conscientious woman {
vote. to Offset the vote OF the i'll balance
females and profcssioial pol .ticians.
IL is not because We are selfish an
contrary, Mir Rood, hat we fight agains
the imposition q. this burden. 1t is he
cause We realize what a load Il woul
be. and because We also know tina
where equal suffrage relgns there ha
been no hetternent of legislation, an
there has been distinct injury to wome
who enter political life.
MAR ELLEN ROBERTS.
UTICA. October 20.