Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-05
CALLS 1T DISGUSTING
Milwaukee Paper Criticixcn suffrage
"omcn'H deception of Prcsi-
dent Wilson

mob OF bowling, mauling, smuggling
women was the contribution OF equal
suffrage 10 the reception OF President
wilson III Chicago Thursday
Matrons with gray hairs, girls in
their teens, ladies Of fashion and nc.
crosses from the BLACK bcl,'--rcprc-
scnt!nG our ncighbor city's newly en-
irnnch!Sad voter fought IKE harrl.
dams and gutter wcrcheS on chicaGo's
principal thorcughfare in order 10
demonstrate their craftsmanship for Will
son Or Hughes
II was disgusting, terrifying spec
taclc. and II the wri,cr-who was an
.ycwitncss--n"i ever had Il doubt as
10 the dcmoraliGiug influence Of wo-
man suffrage, that doubt woul,i have
been there dspellcd
Those freuZicd MISUNDERSTANDING
each other with banners and umbrellas
tearing on hudiccs. smashing hats, rip
ping with their nails ~ eyes and hair
presented II picture that might have
been taken from ono ot ltogar,hs pros
titutcd kennels. Vet they were the
chosen representatives and leaders Of
thicngo's "ufrnn"hiS"d woma II hood-
the select product. from mansion and
Earre,. -! four Years Of politics for
women.
This paper has opposed equal suf-
rate, In season and out, not on any
grounds Of alleged feminine inferiority
'dN WI VIC Si'nD'c proposition fhat votes
Tor women meant politics for women
and that politics for women meant. not
on. tiIe distraction OF the sex from it's
natural, lofty functions, but it's dcEra :
dalton from that plane OF ideal inhu-
cnct which II has occupied since the
family became the social unit
That proposition received most elo-
qucnt demonstration in Chicago Thurs
day.
large part Of the vast crowd which
witnessed this bawdy battle between
weii-Ernoncd. middlc-ugcd women ad :
descent girls, ncrresscS. s!atterrs and
v!ragoes WAS composed Of youths and
childrcn--y"ung America turned out to
see its President.
To all OF these, and especially to the
boys and young men. that spectacle
was distinctly demorsl:zing.
Woman. because OF her sacred func
ton, her Instinct for motherhood and
her more delicate s.nsibilitieS, appeals
10 the best in masculine nature. and, a s
Goethe has pointed out. may lead man
rnystically upward toward noblcr liv-
ing. But. the ever woinanIy" which
the wise poet cele brated. was dragg,,i
through the mire of Michigan Avenue
br cpunl suffrage. and the Ideal that
might have proved saving grace tt
many youth was shattered to pieces
and made a mockery
And all for what:
For the cheap and hollow oppor.
tunity of playing politics In a presi-
dental campaisn!
AS II the election Of Wilson or
Hughes could even for II moment com
par" in Importance with the conser-
walton of the womanly ideal. and all
that means in the maintenance Of
Lowell" home life. of inspiring wifeli-
ness. of saving motherhood.
These Chicago .AInazons. whatever
their intelligence Of civic aspirations
thrust all that into the muck They
nrostitutcd all that is finest and most
valuable in ihc influence of their sex
They demonstrated that politics in
stead Of adding to the power Of Wo-
men. wcakens them where they are
strongest and, by so weakening. de-
*troys one oe the most potent props
OF morality and the social welfare
When men Indulge in political brawls
il is bad cnoui;h Fut brawling on
The part Of The fighting sex destroys
Il" Ideals. breaks down no moral stand
ards.
But mothers. wives and ma idcns riot
ing for an electoral baublc in the pub
lie highway batter at the very founda
lions of family life. Of domestic
solidarity ana Of sex inspiration, and
all the votes they may cast, even TO,
tho best causes and the best candidates
cannot atone for their ravagc.--Mil-
WQukce Free Press