Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-25

II ! 4
Science Grinnell Coliege.1
Iowa votes on the momentoas ques-
ton on June 5. 1915. why should any
man vote against the Acknowledgement
of women? Before the civil war there
We're indeed arguments against woman
suffrage which seemed to be valid. At
that time women in general were dis
| tinctly inferior to men in the matter
Of education. There were no general
provisions for the higher education OF
women. Teaching was done chiefly by
men. Now all this lie changed. Women
are rapidly becoming equal or superior
to men in education. Girls remain
longer at school and after leaving
school are more persistent in continu-
ing the processes OF education. The
ChautauQua movement is largely a
woman's movement. In increasing
numbers women are being trained in
the management of religious, educa-
tional, social and industrial organiza-
tons. and. above all, women are &C.
tually doing more than nine-tenths OF
the teaching in our public schools.
They teach boys as well as girls: they
give instruction to the future voter In
the duties Of citizenship. Now 1t 10
fundamentally wrong in principle to
stigmatize those who do the teaching
with the legal stamp Of inferiority.
Those who teach civic duties ought to
be responsible citizens; wanting that
qualification the teachers can not
command proper respect.
Another apparent argument OF the
ante bellum days has assumed q new
aspect At first there seemed to be
no valid reason why the ballot should
be given to those who do not wish to
vote. Government was still viewed as
a mechanical device for keeping order.
Ideals of positive democracy were Ill
defined. With the advent Of the new
Industrial organization since the war
there have arisen large groups 90 OF
problems whose solution requires the
aid Of women. Education is a recog-
nized woman's business. City house
keeping is becoming an enlarged
domestic housekeeping in which
women are experts. Numerous social
evils can be solved only by taking ac-
count OF the woman's point OF view.
The franchise Is required for the
sake Of the men and boys quite as
much as for the sake of girls and
women. There are. moreover, special
reasons for bestowing the franchise
upon women. even tho they may not
wish it. With the vast and sudden In
crease Of wealth there has arisen an
idle, frivolous class OF women who
need the responsibility OF complete
citizenship as a means OF personal
salvation, There Is likewise large,
over worked poyerty-stricken class OF
women who in their ignorance may
have no desire for the franchise. while
this very fact may be the strongest
reason for bestowing 1t upon them. 4
It will be with women as 1t has been
with men. Almost without warning,
as a mere political trick on the part
OF Disraeli the prime minister, Eng
lish working men had the franchise
thrust upon them in 1857. They were
over burdened, ignorant and un-
trained; vet no disaster followed. ana
in less than a half century. English
working-men have been transferred
into intelligent. active citizens. Inc
ballot in the hands Of the poor IN not
an added burden, but a means OF edu-
cation and training, a means OF light
ening life's burdens. The very ficn
ana the very poor especially need the
franchise as symbol Of equality. .
badge of unity and common interest.
. The extension Of the suffrage to
women is an essential factor In the
great world movement toward democ-
racy. Democracy has come upon the
world not because Of any definite
in its favor; not because q
majority Of men believe in democracy.
but because all forms Of government
by kings or by privileged classes have
become discredited. 1t Is notorious
that multitudes whose personal opin-
ions are adverse to democracy, yet
realizing that the time has come for
a trial of free government. are faith
fully cooperating with those who DO
believe In democracy, in order to con-
serve the best interests OF the state.
Hamilton believed in