The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-01
The Vote was given to Women in
BEN LINDSEY
CONTINUED from Is, par. Stuff rage Sec,

CONTINUED from LIST page Suffrage sec)
take any mother away from her home
duties 10 spend ten minutes going TO
the polls. casting her vote. and re-
turning 10 the bosom OF her family;
but during those ten minutes she
Yields a power that IS doing more 10
protect her home. and all other homes.
than any other possible influence.
Just as all laws passed by women
significantly concern the home and
It's environments, just so does partici.
patton in public affairs seem to have
given the women OF Colorado a deeper.
more intelligent and energetic inter.
est in their homes. BY the legal estab-
hshment and recognition of women's
citizenship. the intellect and charac.
Ter and reciprocal estimation OF both
sexes has been raised. The possession
OF the ballot has given women an in
terest In general as we'll as political
AFFAIRS. and this has naturally stimu
lated the men. Instead OF the old per
functory chit-chat of the average do
nestle circle-the relation of personal
doings and gossip IA the base OF CON
jugal conversation--there has been an
Injection OF ideas. the dawning OF an
Intelligent and more intimate cumpan.
ionship. The woman. instead of beng
shut OFF from her husbands larger
thoughts and outside interests. now
shares In them. and even when the
partnership il not particularly illumi-
native. Il II certainly an improvement.
What statistics there are all fail
10 show that the home broadening has
been attended by 'Coarsening and de.
terioration.' The Colorado birth rate
has increased steadily. and the school
population has gained % per cent. in
i've years. The most careful investi-
cation OF court records proves that
there has never been a divorce where
the wife's political activity was as
signed as the cause The United
States reports show fewer women In
the wage earning class in Colorado
than there are in any other State. and
higher average of wages for both
men and women. The average yea.
ly male earnings in the United States
are s5l3. and the average yearly f.
male earnings s213. yet Colorado
shows an average OF $685. for men and
1854 for women.
In this connection II Is fair 10 con
slider club life. which plays an import.
ant part in the feminine activities Of
every town and city In the land. IN
der equal suffrage the woman's club
has undergone a startling transforma.
ton. Instead OF being confined 10 the
old innocuous topics. the impractic.
abilities Of culture and near thought. .
these organizations. stripped Of their
humility. now aim az specific pur-
poses and achieve useful ends The
deliberations cover such subjects as
educational problems. prohibition.
Joint property. election reform. direct
leEi elation. pure food domestic Sci
enco. the proper conduct Of city. coun
y and State Institutions. sociology and
all manner % social and Industrial
reforms
in addition % the culture clubs
nat have been given breadth and prr.
pose. there are women - political clubs
IN almost every town ln the State. not
FOR mo Fecurement ~ Offices. but Tor
intelligent study % measures. condi-
lions and remedies Legislator and
public men have come % regard DO as
% privilege % appear before these or.
carnations And when This permits.
sion r. granted. n ls not in the lnfcr
osta ~ candidates or schemes. but out
NJ o. desire 20 Eet a clearer under.
Standing - some pending or proro %
measure Contrary 20 tho general bo.