The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-11-02
political ADVERTISEMENT
Why theMajorityof
Women Do Not
Want The
Ballot

! en- believe that their inherent rights
and privileges would suffer II the duty
OF voting were imposed upon them.
! fo7 the following reasons: Because
suffrage inyofves ofice-holdinS. which
, is Inconsistent with The duties OF most
women; because they feel that their
obvious duties and trusts-as sacred
as any OF earth-llready demand their
best efforts; because the duties cannot
be relocated 10 others: because poiiri-
cal equality will deprive woman OF
special privileges hitherto accorded
to her by law: because they hold that
the suffrage would lessen rather than
/ increase their influence for good.
Suffrage involves office-holding- II
women vote. they ought also 10 hold
Office, and assume IL 'rorkinS duties
incident to office A system which tends
+ TO the dissolution OF the home Is more
( periIous 10 the general good than any
other form OF danger. and ofice-hoid-
/ ing is. on the face Of il. Incompatible
with wonlan's proper discharge OF her
duties as wife and mother.
J Many women there are. II Is true.
[ who are not wives and mothers: and.
II women vote. there will he more OF
them. but laws are made for the aver
ago Individual. and the average woman
Is occupied in her house with the cares
/ OF a wife. mother. and home-maker.
The trusts OF woman now are as
sacred as any on earth. and man can
! not relieve her of them. II. the fore.
ne demands OF her participation II such
1 duties. political or general. as his nat-
, nral constitution iitS him for. while
he cannot relieve her OF those most
necessary duties which nature demands
Of her. he commits toward her mon
strous injustice. This is wha; iGnpos-
ing the suffrage on women would
amount to: for II women may vote she
must vote. Il is q mere sophiSm to
say tha; the simple dropping Of ballot
IS all that is required OF her. II the
suffrage Is extended 10 women. they
mus; accept it as a duty. bringing n
hear on Il the conscientious spirit
which they bring 70 bear on their
present life problems:
Woman's influence without the Ballot
From this summary 1t Will be seer
,hat without the ballot women have
Obtained more than mere justice.
We oppose the suffrage FOR women
. because We feel that We have more In
, iuence without IL. There is not
sgnpIe subject in which woman takes
an Intelligent interest IN which sh'
ca,no, exert an influence IN the com
muui;y rroporuonate to her character
and ability. .-.... =,
II the suffrage movement were e
disbard today and no woman ever vote
not a single great interest would sur
fer. None OF womaE's wide philan
thropies would be harmed: woman
colleges would he unaffected; the pro
frssions would continue TO give di
; plorlas 10 qualified women: tradesmer
!. would still employ women; good laws
/ would not be repealed. and bad law
/ would be no more likely 20 be framed
! literature would rot suffer: home
: would be no less secure; woman'S civi
! wor! would not cease.
; The influence Of woman standing
anart from the ballot is immeasurable
: Men look to her then knowing tina
{ she has no SELFISH. political Interest,"
, 70 further as the embodiment Of al
: that is ;ruest and noblest. She ha'
influence with all parties alike; II
: voter. she would have only the in
e Auence OF her own party. even M
women's vote being divided agains
itscIf We believe that 1t is Of vita
= importance that our sex should have
: no political ends 20 serve.
2 In whatever tends 10 protect anC
elevate woman, TO secure her right.
: In the true sense Of the word; 10 oper
nm 10 her new paths OF usefulness. al
,-ne-heartod men will join with WON
: en-. In such work there is no difference
: Childhood is hers 10 influence and
D mold: and what greater power fol
!. good could there be given her? lie
E ali true women. loyal citizens OF ouI
t republic. look TO the best performanc,
I Of the private and public trusts whicl
= are naturally theirs. striving for nj
j false equality" since there is nj
:. question Of comparison between mel
/ snd their duties and women and theirs
4 They are not like in like" but ELK
I in difference" each experimenting tn
:. other. rising OF falling. but always TO
Observation-Disclosures.