Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1916-09-20
VOTES FOR WOMEN
Useless Opposition To
The Tide OF Progress

There are some people who are
still wondering whether Woman
Suffrage will ruin home life and
cause general disaster in spite OF
the fact that women now vote IN
II states, in none of which have
these disasters occurred. Which
recalls a story of pioneer days.
Asettler in Missouri presented
his wife with cookstove, the first
ever seen in that part of the couh-
try. The nearest neighbor, man
living ten miles away, came TO
see how it would work. He watch
ed the dinner cook, ate 1t with the
utmost relish and then remarked
with a shake Of the head, well,
Sarah. it works all right, and the
victuals taste firstrate, but | don't
believe it'll ever be a success.
"Poor doubling Thomas!" The
women in Wyoming have been
voting since 1869 and the stoves
have worked all right and the VIC
tuals taste firstrate and it is a
success.
Doubtless many of my readers
remember the story Of the ancient
king who had his throne carried
to the seashore. There he sat
and commanded the tide not to
rise. Surely, decree to the effect
that women shall not vote would
be quite as absurd, as well as use
less.
Last July, a monster suffrage
parade was held in London. A
great sign was carried by the wo-
men, bearing these words, They
also serve, who stay at home"
Not one person in the whole of
England or any place else, for that
matter, could possibly dispute this
fact. What would have become of
not only Tommy Atkins" but of
all the English "Tommies,"
French Jeans" Russian "Alex-
anders," and German "Carls," If
the women had not served? There
seems to be little doubt in English
minds, that after the war, suffrage
will be granted the women.
Is any American man Skeptical
as to whether we American wO-
men would be just as eager to
serve in case of war? Have the
women of this country ever held
back when their men were be-
hind the guns? Surely, we wo-
men of the twentieth century have
not so deteriorated.
Are we not just as surely serv-
ing in times of peace? Isn't cook
ing palatable food and bringing up
a family in the way it should go,
the highest form of service? Isn't
a woman who spends the best
years of her. life, mending stock
ings, shirts and dresses just as
capable of helping to mend the
laws? Some of our manmade
laws surely need mending. A per-
son addicted to the use of slang,
might say that they need darning
Women help pay Congressmen's
campaign expenses. That the
campaign is we'll under way, may
be judged by the increased thick
ness of the Congressional Re-
cord" nowadays, owing to the
various political speeches and
campaign material which are in
serted every day. Members may,
with the consent of Congress, cir
cularize their entire constituency
with issues of the Record" These
records are sent out from the
Government Printing Office at the
expense of the Federal Govern
ment.
Then, too, the mailing, under
the franking privilege, of a varie
ty of public documents, and the
cost of materials, are items of
great expense to the Federal Gov
eminent.
Besides this, there is to be cal
culated the amount of stock and
printing involved in personal cor
respondence, regarded as frank
able and treated as such.
AS this is a close election year,
all members are availing them
selves Of the franking privileges
to the limit, and nothing in the
form of "tickler" which may be
sent to their constituents at the
expense of the Government is be-
ing held back.
1t is we'll to remember that
large share of this expense is
borne by the vOteless women of
the country.
Laura c. Pollard,
Chairman for Newark