The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-08-11

Why should women vote That 80
the question that isrineing from
ocean to ocean and reyarberatinesfro from
the Canadian boundaryto the Aex3.
can border. It is the mission of q
newpaper to give thesnews and the
action Of the TexasssFarmers' Union
in opposing woman suffrage when
that question was recently before the
Texas legislature Is sigptdcant as
representing the attitude of the or.
gantzed plQWman. We reproduce in
spartzthe argument presented by Hon.
Nv. p. Lewis. president Of the Taxaa
Farmers Union, in oppoainE the hill:
1T is gratifying to note that 1t @ia
not the farmers WifesWho is clamprdng
for the ballot. She lis too huay
trying to make happier homes. mold,
ing the minds OF future citizens and
sharing with her husband the carea
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, cpnyeniencesaor aor
opportunities In life. It is. 90 9 rule,
the city woman promoted to idlensss
by prosperity, who is leading the sut.
fragette movement. z
From many standpoints, perhaps
q woman has as much right to vote
as man. So has she as much right
to ploW as g man; she has as much
right to work In factory as 10 man;
she has-as much right oe-shoulder q
musket as man, but we would rather
she would not do SO from choice
and we regret that necessity ofttimes
compels her to earn living by en-
gaging in gainful occupations We do
not consider misfortune a qualiflca-
tion for suffrage or q business acci.
dent reason for granting franchise.
We are opposed to woman at ths
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
sues, although she may have as much
right to do one as the, other. e
Opposed Unaexing 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-
BILE Of 1ntelligently 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 plow 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's
love for the ridiculous. but to under
take to unsex the human race by law
Is the height Of legislative folly, and
q tragedy to mankind. sE
I'VE 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. III
Woman is the medium through
which angels whisper their messages
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 sliberator Of woman
.kind-Was satisfied to teach the lesaonsl
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 well pleased.