New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-24
ANTI-SUFFRAGE ANSWERS
A Rejoinder to the Arguments for
Suffrage of Mr.. Haweis.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr. Haweis has addressed TO me some
arguments for suffrage which l would like to
answer, numbered as he presents them.
First-It is true that women, without the
suffrage, cannot officially compel politicians
to redress their grievances Nor can they do
so in the equal suffrage states save with the
assistance of the men who vote.
Second Factory hands, whether men or
women, do not enforce their will upon their
employers by means Of votes. The power Of
the labor unions is the result Of organiza-
ton, not of the possession of the suffrage.
When women workers organize in the same
way they will WELD the same power.
Third cannot agree with Mr.. Haweis that
lack Of representation exaggerates the differ
ence in power between beautiful and homely
women, as this would imply that men are in
fuenced through their eyes alone. The most
influential women Of the present time are not
beauties, but women Of intellect and char
acter.
Fourth Sanct.ty has never been an invari-
able ingredient Of the home, and probably
never will be. The lack of it is due to the
imperfections of human nature, with which
the suffrage has nothing to do.
Fifth Freedom is good for its own sake"
Yes, with qualifications. We Americans are
entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness For Mary Mallon, the typhoid
carrier, this means the right to go and to
work where she plesses, leaving after her a
trail of fatal disease. Not so very long ago
freedom meant, TO certain labor organizs-
ton, the right to destroy bridges, to murder
inoffensive citizens and TO blow up news
paper Office and cause the death Of twenty
one innocent people with whom it had no
quarrel. 1t seems as if juster definition of
freedom would be the right of the individual
to crafty his own desires so long they
cause no injury to others.
Sixth-"Chivalry as an equivalent OF nat
ural rights is oyerrated." What are natural
rights? Supposedly those belonging TO Great
ures living in a state Of nature, uncivilized
human tribes and wild animals. After the
period Of helpless infancy the wild animal
is entitled to nothing save the food and the
shelter from the elements which he obtains
by his own efforts. The suffrage is not q
natural right, but is legal one.
Seventh-"Life is proved not intolersble
under equal suffrage" Nor is it intolersble
in manhood suffrage states.
ElEhlh EQual suffrage does not produce
efFeminacy in men" This may be true, but the
fact that in equal suffrage states men have
already begun 10 sue their wives for non
support would seem 70 indicate leaning in
that direction.
In former letter, protesting against Mr..
Haweiss statement that in law women
ranked "as cattle and property" quoted the
New Jersey law concerning the wife's dover
right as lifting her out Of the cattle class,
but did not use it as an argument that sf-
fected suffrage. At that time | knew that
the Rathbun act had been passed, but it was
still so new that its provisions had not been
published, It seemed suitable TO quote the
law that had been in force in this state for
generations. 1t seems that the Rathbun act
deprives the people of New Jersey Of both
the dover and courtesy rights, but il is
gratifying 20 be able to state that the New
Jersey Legislators are themselves dissatisfied
with its provisions, and are now trying to
alter them. ROSE II. PHELPS.
Hackensack, y. j., April 10, 1915