Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-07-30
Equal SUFFRAGE
Suffrage a Social Need of The
Present''-Address of Harriette M.
Dilla, Phi. ID. of Lake Erie College
Before County Grange.

AT Cne tultOn county orange
meeting held Saturday, an address
was made by Miss Harriette M. Dilla,
Phi. D. Professor of government and
Social Science at Lake Erie College,
Painesville, Ohio, on Suffrage, Social
Need of the Present"
In part the speaker said that "the
chief motive for requesting equal
franchise was the desire of women to
assist more effectually than they are
able to do without the right to cast
a vote. One half of our population are
,burdened with all lines of legislation
and consequently those have been
neglected which are least relevant to
business or politics. 1t is no arraign-
ment of mems accomplishment to say
that improvement is possible and help
is desirable.
Upon whom may they call for as
sistance in meeting the varied classes
of demands placed upon lawmakers? =?
There are the idiots, the imbeciles, in
sane and criminals who are manifest
ly unfit to help in any way.
With these classes are also exclud-
ed the women, who are the mothers
and home-makers of the country. With
their specialized functions, activities
and interests it would seem that they
were admirably qualified to assist es-
pecially in social legislation where
their maternal or mothers in
terest is vitality necessary. 1t is an
advantage rather than disadvantage,
and it would help to overcome mo-
tives based exclusively upon business
or politics"
The example was cited by the en-
forced resignation of Miss Charlotte
Dye, head of the State Reform School
for Girls at Delaware. She had eff
fected marvellous reforms in the in
stitutions during the two years of her
administration. but because of par
tisan demands for the salary of her
office. She was forced to resign in
favor of a creature of the admin
istratin. The latent power which the
women of Ohio would have possessed
had they enjoyed the franchise would
have proven the administration from
committing this huge injustice against
/ the six hundred unfortunate girl-wardi
of the state. Maternal interest is
necessary to combat the unscrupulou:
partisan tendencies that sometime:
appear in our public charitable agen
cies and institutions.
| In the eleven states where full suf
frage has been accorded to women
they have been especially interested
in such branches of law as thos,
touching labor, insanitary and exces
sive labor of women, mothers pen
! sions, public care of state wards, ant
equal reform in its various phases
These are needed social laws tina
few would call "emotionaP' or "sen
timental."
The fact that the home is the specia
sphere for women is the best groun'
upon which to request the franchise
In fact, everything that pertains t
, the home belongs to the sphere o
, woman. She is responsible for II
With this in mind can anyone thin
/ of any issue which does not in som
: way concern the home? Certainl
women are keenly interested an
{ Justly concerned with PRACTICAL
every issue upon which suffrage
exercised by men, but nevertheless
they may not express themselve
directly and effectively as pen ma
do.
1t is not generally realized that in
]. difference to this subject is a rea
: form of selfshness, however uninter
tional. Upon those whose conditio
lis satisfactory, who do not feel tn
f keen need of voting rests the obliga
: tions to help in the movement b
< which men may receive assistance j
their care and treatment of those VIII
: are reallv unfortunate and in need G
: more careful consideration.
Later the Fifth District will organ
{ ize and it promises to become one c
J the most helpful and enthusiastic c
= the state.