The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-02
Head of State Federation Of
WOmen'S Clubs Endorses
Equal Suffrage.
one Of the forward LOOKING wom.

EN- of the state is Mrs. Joseph G,
Cochran, president of the State Fed
Grafton of Womens Clubs. She has
long been a leader in all those things
that have for their object the adj
Fancement of both men and women.
Now that the opportunity has come
not only to aid the women to obtain
The franchise, but to add to the cleo
korate a sound element Of strength.
Mrs. Cochran does not hesitate.
In the following signed statement
the distinguished president of the
Federation puts her pen upon some
Of the most cogent reasons for grant
Ing equal suffrage:
Her Statement.
Many of the vital problems con
fronting our government in the in
strial world will never be solved
h until women have the vote, Of three
hundred trades and professions fol
lowed by men, women are to be found
Enialllbut three or four.
5ever before in the history of the
tasS .have children and young wom-
81 formed, as they do today, as i'm
poftafit a part Of the working force
Of gfeat industrial communities who'll
" apart from their parents and the
family life.
T6Ideprive women Of an equal
share 81 the power to determine the
laws az these young workers is to
give cruelty unequal power to sordlu
employers. Some men contend that
women can do as much by their in
direct influence. The power OF one
vote is greater than the influence OF
I'VE hundred of these poor wage
earners.
In 1905 approximately one woman
in every hyeiin the United States was
engaged in gainful employment ana
the number was increasing. Most OF
these women have no choice as TO
whether they will work or not, and
many Of them are working in circum-
stances corrrptive TO health ana
Motherhood.
is therefore vital problem for
thf future of our race, how to rem
de- he conditions Of industry com
patba with the physical and moral
heath of women,
10 one who knows little about
human nature and the deep wisdom
Of rspres entative government it rs
clear that the only first step IN the
solution OF that problem is to give to
the women themselves the dignity OF
defense and political recognition
Compared to the variety of the dis
advantages under which they enter
competitive system, it is small
thing to 1--WE them but it is the first
and manifest thing.
The question is oftenest asked,
"Wll women vote intelligently? The
question ridiculous. Let us go
back to the history Of the entran-
chisemenr OF men in this country
First-Taa voters got their right
by the origiaa colonial charters most
Of them incluIng religious Qualihca-
lions. thus -ictIng the ballot to
relatively few n.
Second Afr the Revolution, for
The sake Of og mon defense" and
the general H.l re" the religious
qualification wa moved. A large
number of men vsa then enfran-
chised, but they a not ask for the
vote, nor did raeg promise to use
1t well or 10 use IJal u.
Third.-In 1880 ,aa naturaliza-
ton act OF ConETo another large
number OF men we calranchised,
which act also euiraroa.aa heir des-
rendants and again They al not ask
for the vote nor promise 10 usei it
well.
FoQTth.-When the rn. we're
given the vote it was not -au.r re-
quest, nor were they req.r ITO low
that they would make good use of
1t.
Fffth.-The same is true o. The en-
franchised Indians. What is equ.red
at present OF a man before be can
vote in the United States? ~ must
be twenty-one years old, he must be
native born or naturalized. IN some
states he must be able TO read. That
Is all.
He is not asked if he will use ht
vote. He is not asked if all mel
want to vote. He is not asked if h
aul make better laws. He is no