Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-05-02

IudL, Cuc Ac6loldIui u 1o"d Sou1POo-
ed entirely of men saw to that and
Iowa will stay dry--if women keep
their hands off the ballot. .
$50 many women are being mis-
led on the liquor question by the suf-
fragists," said Hon. Thomas B. Cat
ron, U. S. senator from New Mexico,
introducing an article upon Woman
Suffrage before the senate, March
26, 1916, "that it is we'll to submit
some facts ON the subject. Prior to
Nov. 3, 1914, in no state in which
women have voted on the question
had state wide prohibition ever been
adopted. Ten states where men
alone voted, had state vide prohiOi-
|tion.' ,. ~
Wyoming legalized gambling for
about 40 years after women had the
ballot and had neither state wide
prohibition nor local option laws. So
we'll known is the history concerning
liquor interests and the saloon in
suffrage states, that prominent suf-
fragists have refused to consider pro-
hibition in the suffrage issue. Mrs.
Minnie Reynolds, for the National
Suffrage Association, recently chal-
llenged anyone to find word con-
corning prohibition among the
pamphlets issued by the association.
Mrs. o. P. Belmont, May Wright Sc
wall and other leading suffrage
speakers have made public state
ments regarding the disclaiming Of
prohibition as one of the consumma-
lions suffrage is to bring about.
No tramp or hobo can vote; he
must first establish six months resi-
dence in community and after that
he has ceased to be tramp; he is a
resident. ..E
The ballot for women will not Gre
ate in them an interest in schools,
sanitary measures and civic reforms;
the desire to improve these condi-
lions must first be there before wom-
en- will exercise the right. The first
mothers pension law" the first
"workmen's compensation law" the
first "red light abatement law" were
passed in male suffrage states. No
woman suffrage state can show bet
ter laws than those of Wisconsin,
Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri,
Massachusetts, etc. Judge Lindsay in
an address in Denver, the capital OF
woman suffrage state, last year
said: ,"We are 20 years behind Mas
sachusetts in spite of suffrage"
Not one of the women desiring the
vote would shoulder a musket; not
many would desire to serve on a
jury. What then have we-a desire
to possess the privilege without the
obligation? No person with intelli-
gence doubts the ability Of certain
women to vote, more than the ability
of certain men; indeed, there is a
large percent of both sexes compe-
tent to make laws, but both sexes are
not competent to enforce the laws.
How many of the rank and file of
women know what ward they live
lin? How many what township? How
many women sheltered in the home
will have an idea of the qualifica
lions of male Office seeker; and
how many good women would be
good office holders? If a man is
good to his family, congenial
neighbor and an all-round affable
gentleman he will poll a large vote
from the ladies if he runs for Office,
but men associated with him in bust
ness and observing him at close
range may know a different story.
On the other hand when men admit
they do not always know who or
what they are voting for because it
is impossible to ascertain, how are
women going to know?
Must so per cent of the women
have the vote forced upon them by
the other 20 per cent? The largest
number of women in Iowa are home.
making, church going, embarrassing
women. The majority are not bust
ness women, are not even federated
club women; they are not in any
sense politicians, neither do they re-
alize that they have been missing
something. They have not felt down
trodden: that they were making
slaves of themselves. for they have
been happy and contended. even
when they have not found time to
read the village daily, to-say moth
ing of the city daily, leading period
icals on public questions, reform and
political outlooks. They have been
at peace with themselves and their
friends, but now has come this COM
motion and confusion worse con-
founded" and peace is no more. The
spirit of unrest has invaded the club
circle, the friendly circle, the school
and even the church where the saw
ing grace of the Almighty is confus-