The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-23
WOMAN SUFFRAGE ENDORSED

exact position is that. with His Ehnl-
nence Cardinal Gibbons and Senator
Root and many other fair minded and
clear sighted men, deprecate yes,
even dcplorc, this attempt OF the
women OF the United States to descend
from their high pedestal into the
political arena where there ia much
that is unworthy and vile and even
foul to he sometimes encountered. we
have the highest authority for saying
that we cannot touch pitch and not
be defled. II was the strong and
masculine Hercules. and not Juno or
Minerva, that cleansed the Aigean
stables. II is the dread that this con-
cossion OF suffrage would react most
unfavorably on woman herself thai
holds me back shrink from robbinE
women OF her old time modesty and
delicacy, OF her right us queen to roign
over the hearts OF her husband and
children in the pure and quiet realm
OF her home. Moreover are there MOI
enough of unhappincss and friction
in the married state already Are
there not enough Of divided house
holds without injecting into them po-
litical strife as we'll? ! think would
be willing to 20 as far as concedins
to unmarried women and to widows,
especially with property qualifications
voice In questions Of taxation, civic
Improvement and social upllft, but !
venture to think that the married
woman should find expression for her
views and desires in the vote OF her
husband and her sons OF competent
age. A good wife with average tact
and diplomacy, will always no able
thus to be. represented at tho polls.
The best and sweetcst and gentlest
women rule their husbands without
the latter realizing 1t, especially In
these United States, tho paradise OF
wives. would like IN passing to be
permitted to remove miscomprehen-
sion which finds Judgment in the
minds OF many, to wit, that the Cath
Ollie church as q church Is opposed to
woman suffrage. This Ia q great mis-
take. There Is nothing in the dog
matte, teaching Of the church and
nothing in It's discipline which re-
fuses such right. Thus wo have Car
dinal Gibbons against woman suffrage
and Cardinal Moran. Of Australia,
strongly In favor Of II. No Catholic
woman need fear any ecclesiastical
censures, therefore, II she acts upon
her right to vote; but l venture to say
that in so doing she will 80 against
the great stream Of tradition and what
/ might call the instinct of the church.
Not Concerned.
"As to tho political effects Of the
victory or defeat Of the ladies in the
coming submission Of tho question I
beg to say that am not greatly con-
Ecerned in 1t and have not the data at
my disposal to form Judgment that
would be worth anything. freely
concede that thousands. nay millions,
Of good women aro strong for suf-
lfrage. They sincerely believe that,
armed with tho ballot, they will be
able to effect wonders In the direction
Of reform. For this, honor and re-
spect them and ! would desire to mako
1t as plain as possible that have no
censure for such. no matter to what
denomination they may belong. Neither
Is 1t my purpose to make a stand
against the movement In which these
ladies are 30 deeply and conscientious
lily interested. have already more
problems and difficulties on my nanus
than ever hope to solve or over
come"
The RI. Rev. G. W. Peterkin, Of
Parkersburg, bishop Of the West vir-
ginia diocese Of the Protestant Epis-
copal church, was unable to answer
the questions propounded by the Sum
day Telegram on account Of his state
Of health. The following letter from
10. L. Pcterkin explains Itself:
1.-THE condition of Bishop Peterkins
health is such that he Is unable to
send you any adequate reply to your
inquiry in regard to his views on woln-
an suffrage"
L. Safely EhbtS puyb AIiCVs
Although admitting that Democrats
have not been very good political
prophets in West Virginia for some
years, Andrew Price, Democrat, Of
Marlinton, makes the prediction that
the woman suffrage amendment will
be defeated by majority Of 59,7S9.
Mr.. Price, who is prominent attor-
ney, editor and Democratic politician,
however, says that he is going to vote
for woman suffrage. "And gosh, how
In dread 1t, he adds. III am spared
until after election no one can say to
me that / voted against woman suff-
rage. Safety first" he writes In an
other part Of his letter.
Declaring that woman Is supreme in
her world, Mr.. Price goes on. There
are three mirrors in a certain room
and not one Of them hung so that I
can see my face. Years ago gave
up an unequal struggle to get the use
OF at least one Of them"
Political conditions In the state
would not be changed by the granting
Of suffrage to women, Mr.. Price thinks.
His letter follows:
"In answer to your plain inquiry as
to how stand on the question Of
woman suffrage, l will say plaintively
| that expect to advance to the polls
and vote for woman suffrage and
gosh, how dread 1t!
"As to guess at the result Of the
next election, my forecast is that the
amendment will be defeated by ma
jority Of 59.739. hasten to say, how.
ever, before anyone else has chance
that this estimate Is made by a DEM
ocrat, and they have not been very
good political prophets in West vir-
GINA for some years.
Takinv M ChancAa.