Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1916-08-21
WOMEN VOTERS
RAISE STANDARD
Percentage of EduCationGreater
Among Women Says United
States Census Reports

in West Virginia under the auspices
OF the Association opposed to Woman
Suffrage are wonderful jugglers OF
facts and figures. It has been well
said that figures can't lie, but that
tigurers may. The latest spasm
OF the Anti orators has been
caused by their alleged fear that the
extension of the franchise to their
own sex will bring into the electorate
a great mass of ignorant voters. They
claim that great number of for
eign and colored voters will thus be
enfranchlsed To make their argu-
ment sound reasonable they say that
all foreigners and all blacks are ig-
norant
As a matter of fact a study of the
last United States census report
shows that in West Virginia the ad.
altion of women to the enfranchised
class Will materially DECREASE the
ignorant vote. The ignorant vote in
any state is the illiterate vote. But
since those who are using this fake
argument are calling all foreigners
and eolored people ignorant we Will
show that the proportion of these
viii be decreased If the amendment
carries this fall. OF course the vote
has already been given to colored
men and to naturalized foreign males.
In West Virginia there are 1873 col
/ ored males, to every 100 females.
+ Likewise there are go foreign males
to every HOO females. The eolored
males and the foreign naturalized
males have already been given she
vote. A. present 22.670 eolored men
and 1903 uaturalzed men are voters
If votes are extended to women only
15,114 colored females will be added
and but $500 foreign females. 70
every 100 colored male voters will DO
added but &C women voters. To
every 100 naturaltzed male voters
will be added hut 3S1a naturalized
women voters.
In West virginia there are 106
white males to every zoe white te-
males. exclusive of white foreigners.
i There are now 3SO,Sl1 white males in
/ this class over 21 years of age. Thus
i il the women are eiven the vote there
will be added to the white electorate
i $3.50 females Thus to every 100
white men VINO are already voters
i viii be added " 10 women voters.
+ In other words. at present there arc
i but nine white votes in the state TO
/ every colored and naturalized vote.
! Among women there are 10 white
votes to every ealored and foreign
vote. Thus by the addition of we
men to the electorate the proportion
viii be raised fom one colored and
4 naturalized vote 10 every nine white
i votes. To one 70 very fifteen white
votes.
But the West Virginia Equal Suf-
frage Association only gives these
figures to show The falsity of the pet
argument OF the Antis The only ig
noraut vote is tbe iiliterate vote. And
right here is whore the granting OF
! the franchise to women will add
greatly to the mtelleetual character
of the voting population of this com
mouWealth The e#usus of 1910 shows
that there are SO persons in this
state who cannot read o. write. OF
these 42,5ll are males and 32,355 are
females. To every i've illiterate males
there are only gr females.
There arr la47 illiterate negros
OF these G4o5 aa males and but B.
9f2 females H mis- class to every
four females aaee are six males.