The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-23
Difficult to Discuss Any Meas
J IRE Affecting Woman, Writes
Lost Greek Man.

ufe A11eCtlng woman, writes
Lost Creek Man.
at Is difficult to discuss with exact
ness any measure affecting woman"
writes w. F.. Hornor, of Lost Creek.
to the Sunday Telegram. 1.-THE refine
ment Of her position in society, to-
gether with the chivalry Of man to-
ward the sex that gave him birth,
though adulterated oftentimes with
flattefJ and deceit, places her in an
exalted position where a fair discus
sion. of the issue is beclouded with
sentiment and shields her from the
cold logic Of actual truth.
THE usual arguments in favor OF
woman suffrage abound with sense
less platitudes and meaningless
phrases and are so replete with uto-
plan promises Of the many fanciful
blessings that will follow its enact
ment, that one would think that all
the diseases that afflict the body
polite will be cured when the ballot
H. placed in her hands, and all the
vice. misery and woe that have beset
humanity since the fall Of man (and
bear in mind that it is solemnly de-
clared in Holy Writ that 1t was
Adams side partner who caused the
falD, will be wiped out the moment
she is permitted to vote.
1.-THE privilege Of voting is not an
inalienable or divine right, but mere
ly an institution Of Interstate for the
government OF society and is regu-
lated by the different states as SEEM
eth best to promote the general well
fare of all, always having in view the
fundamental principle Of our govern
ment-the greatest good to the great
est number. Some states have had a
religious qualification, some a prop
erty qualification and some states
now have an educational test.
"The issue is to be discussed and
decided, not upon the question Of
woman's capacity to vote, or upon the
false and unfair assumption that she
is held in subsection, but whether 1t
would benefit her condition by CIV
ing her that privilege, and would it be
better for the government and So
ciety. We are all equal before the
law and have equal protection under
the law; If preference exists at all,
it is in favor of woman, any inequal-
ity otherwise is economic, which the
law cannot regulate, neither can wom-
an control it with the ballot in her
hands.
"In all vocations the same SUPER
iority of fitness that gives man an adj
vantage over woman extends also to
the less favored ones of his own sex.
and in all yocations where the spe-
cial fitness of woman excels that Of
man she is displacing him at a less
wage than he is willing to accept.
1.-THE great shibbolith Of suffragists
is that 1t is taxation without repre-
sentation.' Attempting to invoke the
spirit Of '76' against tyranny and OPP
preston in support Of their cause,
when there is no similarity whatever.
They fail to note the difference be-
tween property ownership and citi-
zenship. The ownership Of property
creates liability to contribute by
taxation to the support of the govern
ment where the property is held re-
CARELESS of citizenship, or whether 1t
be an alien, corporation, a minor
or womman. A voter in West Vir-
ginia may. own property in. different
states, he pays taxes on that prop
erty to the state in which 1t is To-
Gates yet that does not entitle him
to vote in that state. =
cit is Indignantly protested that the
most obvious unfairness in refusing
woman the ballot is, that under our
present electoral system consider
able portion Of our male population
classed as undesirable citizens, are al
lowed to vote when intellectual, re-
fined women are denied the privilege,
but it must be remembered that in
extending suffrage to women 1t would
necessarily include an equal proper
ton Of undesirable females who would
be more inclined to avail themselves
Of the ballot than the better class Of
women. 1t is one Of the serious prob
lens of unrestricted suffrage that the
Industrious and frugal are sometimes
apparently antagonized' at the polls
by the idle and shiftless, which with
their jealousies often aroused by the
political demagogue, may eventually
lead 10 serious. results, this is especial
" true in matters relating to- taxa
ton and finance. $50 3.
at is even urged that with equal
suffrage the injustice Of the so-called
double standards Of morals will be
removed, when in fact, the law rec
ognizes no such condition, imposing
equal penalties alike for sexual sins
The inequality arises in the attitude
Of society toward the offenders and
IN this men are always more chari.
table and consistent in their judgment
than women. How often do we see
woman ostracize an erring sister and
at the same time recognize her par
amour in sins as a social equal.
at is claimed that with the power
Of the ballot in woman's hands II
would protect the sanctity Of the
home. The privilege of voting every
wear or two could no more protect hel
from the neglect, cruelty and brutal
nv Of a worthless husband or father
than It could make a dutiful wife ant
mother Of her. The truth is, that the
duties Of each are so sacred and sc
Far above and beyond human law tina
the law can not reach them and when
aver appeal is made to the law for en-
forcement Of those duties it results II
miserable failure so far as securing