The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-06-22
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Chattanooga Times.)

1t is fortunate that all of the wo-
men who are demanding the vote
are not as some of their leaders. AT
meeting of suffragists in Chicago
Tuesday, which was addressed by
men of national reputation and of
prominence, certain incidents oc-
Cured which go to drive home with
greater force many of the argl-
ments against the fetch of woman
suffrage.
Dudley Field Malone was address
ing the meeting and was attempting
to tell why he favored the enact
ment of federal suffrage legislation.
"Tell it to the president" said a
voice in the audience. Il shall be
happy to tell it to the president"
replied Mr.. Malone, "but / shall tell
it in a tone of respect" And again
Victor Murdoch was the speaker and
Mrs. Harriet Stanton Blatch inter
rupted to ask whether his express
sions of friendship were deep enough
to fight for a suffrage plank in the
republican platform in case the two
parties were consolidated"
Il certainly will" said Mr.. Muir
dock.
You do not say that sincerely, -
replied Mrs. Blatch.
From these and other incidents the
observer is led to believe that all
that is gentle, respectful and cour-
teous in woman has fled to the winds
when the question of suffrage is at
stake-disrespectful in their thought
action and words to the president Of
their country, brutal and harsh in
their treatment of a speaker who
does not entirely agree with their
methods, and discourteous to others
of whose sincerity they have some
doubt. Methods such as these are
not arguments and will not win their
fight, and the longer they pursue
them the further away they will be
from attaining their object.
1t would not be amiss, in view of
the tendency of the militant spirit Of
suffragists, to read and ponder what
De Maupassant wrote on this sub
ject, years ago and which is spoken
by one of his male characters in
LES Dimanches dun Bourgeois"
"Mesdames have asked to be per-
mitted to speak in order to combat
your theories. To demand for wo-
men civil rights equal to those exer-
cised by men is equivalent to de-
handing the end of your power. The
exterior aspect alone of women re-
veals that she is not destined for
hard physical labor, nor prolonged
intellectual efforts. Her sphere is
another, but not less beautiful. She
puts poetry into life. By the power
of her grace, the glance of her eye,
the charm of her smile she dominates
man, who dominates the world. Man
has strength which you cannot take
from him; but you have seduction
which captivates his strength. OF
what do you complain? Since the
world began you have been queens
and rulers. Nothing is done without
you. 1t is for you that all fine work
is accomplished.
But the day in which you become
our equals, civally and politically,
you will become our rivals. Take care
then, that the charm that constitutes
your whole strength shall no be bro
ken. For hen, as we are incontesta-
bly, the more vigorous and better
equipped for the sciences and arts,
your inferiority will appear and you
will become truly oppressed.
You have a fine role to play, mes
danes, since for us you represent
the whole seductiveness of life, the
illimitable illusion, the eternal re-
ward of our efforts. Do not seek to
change this. Besides, you will new
or succeed in doing so. | believe il
was Dryden who said that
True art is but nature to advantage
dressed,
What oft was thought but ne'er so
well expressed"