The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-01
GOV. HATFIELD
UhQUALIF|ED|N
ENDORSEMENT
VOTES FOR WOMEN AN
ACT TOO LONG DELAYED
Woman Influence In Public
Affairs Would Be An
Uplifting One

In telling why he favors the extern
sion Of the ballot to women our pres
ent governor. Henry Drury Hatfield.
pays fine tribute to the mothers and
wives and daughters of West virginia
NO chief executive has taken more ad-
vanced ground on this great public
question and none has so strongly
backed up his reasons for favoring
equal suffrage as has our own cover
nor
Following is the signed statement Of
Governor Hatfield:
The world OF to-day is not tn. same
as ihe world OF yesterday. II faces new
problems or old problems into which
rev factors are entering. Many Of those
Problems have 90 do with tn. moral .I L.
cational and Industrial life of th.. r...I.
IN democracy these problems must b.
put up TO the voters for ultimat. salu-
ZION / have supreme confidence. in fb.
Hni!ity OF woman 10 contribute her share
20 me wise determinations of questions
tndt affect the most important rsInfl IONS
OF ire IL u a gross assumption 10 sun
pose that one sex has a fn0rof,oIy ,f
ability 10 deal with the social questions
mat confront Us IN tho political field.
] am convinced that on all great moral
ssuys the votes OF tho women Ia over
WhclmlHg majority will be cast ON th.
Slde OF right. that their part icipation in
ne ballot VIII greatly incrsase the power
mat makes for, rigntcousuess Ia ma
1t was Lincoln. the prcscrver of our
country. who. more than a half century
ago. Favored the acknowledgements OF
women. IL has been largely due to .n-
thusiasts Of the different ages iu .Hc
different spheres Of usefulness frnf is
spoons Die for the marking OF progress
which i~ SO much in evidence about Us
Their" IS no class 81 people that conn
pares. when 80 comes 10 enthusiasm in
me achievement OF things. with OUT
mothers. sisters. wives and daughters
The progress or our nation -urpaSs-
Ing others in the race Of endeayor and
civic hctterment. has been due largely
10 the fact that We are "a nation OF cod
fearing people. and recognize fully as
time passes. our duty 90 society
Whom do We find In the front rank
campaigning tor these principles L. IL
not cur mothers. sisters. wives and
daughters?
a people or nation are measured
. largely by their environment. iuciina-
tons and disposition toward idcali-fr
I towards moro substantial developms Mt
such as religious devotion and educa-
uonal attalumDuts. In science and dis
cpVCrics. looking towards greater perfsc-
tiuu iu the myriads of accomplishments
for the welfare OF man and his sur
roundings
What environment must We have to
insure the greatest possible results IN
social attachments. such as our good
women would advocate. the principles
and conditions FOR which they have been
campaigning since the beginning Of our
/ Republic Is % not they whom we sum
problems that mean much To- us and pos
sibiy marks the turning point 81 our
I destiny among mrn' Does not the in
/ SEPARATION We receive from the stray hair
"a mother whom rhs hrenthos Dr. us Ina n
whisper in our childhood DAYS largely
, direct our future steps when We reach
care-ssorn. devoted ola angels that We
look Co hear our trials and crdsais as
We pass through lifcT Though Islander.
rUtrraala and even crime may be- our
I nr a. al Hm IA nd uH
HII This devotion ls only rYmbuliCaI OF
TO-" ilNfun'HH uf purpose 81 life bent
- in DEVOTION 90 the worN o. moral up
iIff and civic hrftfrmrut Have They
not the same right fn exercise an % tho
rights and privilege that we enjoy. the
principles which have to d. with the dos
fIuf 90 our EHNfrurur ufr I.n deny these.
De- not in keeping with the principles
ll'u which uur s.Nrfnmeut Ie founded
. lu f1ie eEe as we'll as ir nlf other ages.
Development IuH only hUer made pI.aI.
BILE ty enthusiastic Tho great race
arhiev 'meni. Doe b.'r made poe bic hy
this class ~ people.
"Na has boon said recently in an ,Ii-
torinl utt.rarg0 of un. on our weekly
papers -rhe United states ia H nation
conceived fu liberty and dedicated Co.
fhr Proposition that af mon arc created
are free only to o. roverusd and NOT Co.
govern There IH rH equality which uH.a
mot include political equality. and uHII.
ucaI equality Tor aU persons regardless
~ sex
ITO deny suffrage fn arF class ~ Cit
iffus having stake .U fN" EHN.rumr mt
and f1 hase Chat Irri1I .u fHr distinct ton
~ r0N ia na absurd H. FH NIH. u similar
NIa.rIrnI rH'|"u "r f.. ..'.. OF fHr hair
"r eyes II. basil. II.f Uf ri democracy
DBL fhrf iI rIH'I Do r .E"..r"rruf Uv the
people. Huf ur have uuHHI fhH word
people fH mean Coo THIr citizens only
Equal suffrage OF tnr arVea ia The only
r.. .h.r realization of che ideals ~ dem
..Hrrr
Tho natural urHf off woman to vote
ia |uaf H. rIrpr ra that off a man and
rosie .r fNr sHuU ground Since she has
'. IHE hfI share Hf Tho taxes. anc ought
fU h.Ir determine what Tho rate should
nt HuI bow fnr money should Do ev.
U..HfI Tho UIuHrtrfa OF woman auf.
ffrrr should rrHt mo Declaration rf In
dependence Tho Fundamental truths OF
chat document apply without amendment
Co. the riEhfs ~ women ae we'll a. 20 the
riEhts o. men Governments derive