The citizen., 1916-04-27

males over fifteen in The United
States are married, while only 2
per cent OF the human race in
America rounds out its "threescoro
years and ten" without embarking
in this most vital business the
pursuit Of happiness by men and
women.
Feminism is the theory Of individ-
ualism-an unnatural assumption
OF sex isolation-versus the fact
Of the family partnership; and
against the duplication of the mans
duties by the woman stands the
whole evolution Of the argument for
the division OF labor. n the man
efficiently represents the woman in
politics she has no more right 10
request a place as his rival at the
polls than he has TO demand a
place as her rival in the prepara-
tion OF the family food.
Besides, men and women are not
competitors, but companions, and
his "man-made laws" are no more
apt TO work injury TO his wife than
her homemade pastry is liable 10
poison him il he doesn't vote on
its inerediants. Would woman suf-
frage be for or against the preser-
walton Of the family unit9 The his
torian OF the movement says:
There is nothing in the Constitu-
tion TO the effect that the family in
stead OF the individual Is the true
social unit" The sayings Of we'll
known feminists, such as "the home
is no more holy than the postofflce,"
and "the isolated household has
been one OF the chief causes OF
woman's ignorance and degradation
seem TO indicate an enmity 10 this
holy institution OF the family that
is not at all lessened when the
President OF the suffragists deris-
lively describes the "antis" as "the
home, heaven and mother party"
Since there are over seventeen
million OF these homes in the Unit
ed States, ninety-three per cent.
OF which are being run without
servants, and more are being built
every day, the women who stand
boldly for the preservation Of the
home, gain, rather than lose, by
such acknowledgements. The "is-
olated household" (antis are "old
fashioned" enough TO call il "home")
happens TO be several thousand
fold more common than the isolated
individual who seeks 10 pose as
the sole subject for political and
social consideration.
The movement to establish the
individual as the unit OF represen-
tation is admitted by suffragists
themselves TO logically include the
doctrine OF economic indepen-
, dence," which in turn Is not only
blow at the family, but a most
unfair measure TO women. To
deny the helpless mother or the
sick wife the support Of her hus-
, band, or TO effect the same pur-
, pose by teaching the man that he
is not responsible for the welfare
OF the woman he marries means
that eventually State aid must be
substituted for manhood in caring
I for the mother and her children.
Going back to our illustration oi
how information, rather than in
!. telligence, is the necessary factor
in choosing wisely, il is as unde'
niable that men acquire more in
: formation in political affairs than
, women as il is that women learn
: more about domestic duties than
: men. Here, then, enters anotheI
!, question: Are not women capable
!, of acquiring and using this in
: formation as well as men? Most
= emphatically yes, but that is moi
the issue. Is il worth while? Would
(, you ask an Edison to waste his
!, time running for Mayor Of West
. Orange when his efforts in his own
. lines are OF more consequence 70
, the good OF humanity? That is the
! question for women-the question
!, OF whether we ought to make 2
voter out OF a mother. But all w0m-
!, en- are not mothers, and yet the
/, census tells us that the average
|, woman must bear four children II
: the race is TO survive, so marriage
!. and motherhood deserve encourage
I ment surely. The feminist who at
q tempts TO persuade you that we
|, ran eliminate sex" is merely dream
: ing. One moments thought on the
I difference between the fathers and
= mothers relation 10 their common
child is convincing on the point
= that the mother is not always as
, available for political duties as the
!, father. Whereas, il she is to ac-
: quire all the information she needs
!, TO become a wise as well as an
intelligent voter, she must attend
all noIifical affairs "ust like a