Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-25
]. P. Irish Says Women Do
Not Possess Necessary
Physical Courage
SAYS CONDITIONS
ARE WORSE ON COAST
Cites California Cities as
Examples Of Failure Of
Suffrage to Improve

Holding that the ballot is a penalized
responsibility constantly under the
shadow of the criminal law, which
makes man stand behind and defend
the laws made by the ballot and I'M
poses punishment for his failure to
live up to his responsibilities due to
the exercise Of the ballot, John P. Irish
of California, former Iowa resident,
spoke at the Grand opera house Tues
day night for almost two hours. The
lack of physical courage to defend the
law by force, was urged against wom-
en- having the ballot. The former
Iowan attacked woman suffrage taking
the position Of an attorney prosecut-
ing case and using as witnesses
letters, printed statements, speeches,
reports, ETC., Of others largely Cali
fornians but including Judge Ben
Lindsey Of Denver, among the list. He
also referred to Herbert Spencer,
Gladstone, John Bright and even the
philosopher Plato to support his con-
tention against suffrage in its various
phases. .s.. . ....
The lower floor Of the opera house
was pretty we'll flied and few we're
ed the meeting and introduced the
speaker. -.. ...
"The question of enlarging or di-
minishing the electorate is one Of tho
biggest questions which can come be-
fore the voters" Col Irish said in
opening. There are two main issues
to be considered.
do those who are to be granted the
ballot want suffrage?
why was suffrage not made uni
versal in the first place?
"Suffragists say that man has usurp-
ed the right of the ballot for his own
uses.
81 deny this. I deny that the ballot
is a right.
"To exist a government must en-
force it's laws and defend it's SOW
ereignty. In order that this could be
done the trainers of the constitution
gave man the ballot. 1t is penalized
responsibility. In order to hold the
ballot man must be ready at all
times to enforce it's laws and defend
its rights with his own life, If neces-
sary:
If peace officer calls upon citi-
zens for help in putting down a riot
every citizen called upon must re-
spond, must risk his own life if neces-
sary. If he refuses he may be fined
or sent to Jail. If this were not the
case there would be disorders, chaos
anarchy.
"The laws which gave man the bal
lot are founded on the laws of God
which gave man physical strength and
courage to defend his nation. Only in
this is man woman's superior and 1t is
on this physical strength that govern
ments are founded and maintained.
mo man of normal reasoning power
believes that man is superior to woman
in any other thing and all know that
woman makes up for this In spiritual
courage which no man has.
THAT Is the vital reason why the
ballot was given to man and why man
should retain it and not subject wom-
ankind to those things which he must
bear In return for his right to vote.
"The second big question of suffrage
is:
do women want the vote?
I'm states where suffrage has car
ried they have shown conclusively that
they do not. They have shown that If
it Is granted to them they will not
register, they will not vote, they will
have nothing whatever to do with it.
I'm California, where suffrage pass
ed in 1911 only 20 per cent of the wo-
y,,o,, ~, tho cfo r. houo v0to1
II am now going to appear as the
attorney in this case and produce evil
dence to show that my contentious are
correct"
Col. Irish produced an interview
from Mrs. F. H. Colborn, wife Of the
assistant manager of the San Francis
co clearing house and editorials from
the San Francisco Chronicle to show
that only about 20 per cent of the wo.
men in California voted and that these
women were not representative Of the
women OF California.
"Moral conditions are worse In Cali
fornia since suffrage was adopted than
before" Col. Irish declared "The Ma.
tional association of Social Hygiene
during meeting in San Francisco last
year ulduc o. iCPOAI WoiAiAS Gil yOuu6
women to keep away from San Fran.
cisco on account of moral conditions.
Senator Frank Lyons Of Los An.
geles, in recent speech deplored the
fact that that city was overrun with
disorderly houses. In Sacramento the
Ministerial association a few months
ago passed resolutions against the
fragrant violations Of all moral laws in
that city.
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