The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1916-01-12
WHY SHOULD
WOHEN VOTE?
WomAN's SUFFRAGE FROM THE
VIEWPOINT OF LEADING
FARMERS.

Why should women voter That Is
the question that is ringing from
| ocean TO ocean and royerberating from
the Canadian boundary TO tho Mexi.
can border. II is tho mission of a
Newspaper to give the news and the
action of the Texas Farmers Union
In opposing woman's suffrage when
that question WAS recently before the
Texas legislature is significant as
representing the attitude OF the or.
ganized plowmen. We reproduce in
part the argument presented by Hon.
w. d. Lewis, president OF the Texas
Farmers Union. in opposing the bill:
1T is gratifying TO note that 1t is
not the farmers wife who is clamorlng
for tho ballot She is too busy
trying to make happier homes. mold.
lng tho minds of future citizens and
sharing with her husband the cares
of life TO indulge in political gossip.
Tho ballot will give her no relief from
drudgery. give no assistance in cloth.
Ing the children or bring to tho home
additional comforts, conyeniences or
opportunities in life. Il Is, ms a rnle.
tho city woman promoted TO idleness
by prosperity, who is leading tho suf
frngette movement
From many standpoints. perhaps
woman has as much right to vote
as man. So has she as much right
to pillow as n man: she has as much
right TO work in n factory rs n man:
she Inns as much right to shoulder n
musket as man. but we would rather
she would not do so from choice
and we regret that necessity Outlines
comrels her to earn living by en-.
gaging in gainful occupations. We do
not consider misfortune a qualiflca
ton for suffrage or a business acct.
dent reason for granting franchise
We arc opposed to woman at the
ballot box The same as we are on
posed to woman in tho field, in the
factory or In the army and for the
eelfs1me reasons. Wo had rather
see hor plant flowers than SOW wheat:
gather bouquets than pick cotton and
rear children than raige political is
sues, although shn may have as much
right to do ore us tho other.
Opposed to unscxlns Humanity.
Sex qualification fo- suffrage NAV
have IT'S apparent Inconsistencies. No
general rule adjusts itself perfectly
TO all conditions. II Is favorite ar
gument advanced by the proponents OF
woman's suffrage that many cultivated
and noble women are far more capa.
bio OF intolllgently exercising GOV.
ereignty than worthless negro. bu;
the South never was anxious for
negro suffrage. and while culture and
refinement, and even morality, are
desirable virtues. they are not the
only qualifications for franchise
The primary, inherent and insep.
arabic fitness for suffrage Is support.
Ing a family. Tho plow handle the
forge aud the struggle for bread af.
ford experience necessary to properly
mark the ballot. Government is n
sTeat big business and civilization
from the very beginning Unsigned
woman the homo and man the bust.
ness affairs OF life.
There has been much frenl1ish leg.
islatlon enacted during tho past de.
cade that no doubt appeals to woman'a
love for the ridiculous, hut to under.
take 10 unsex the human race by law
IS the height OF legislative folly and
a tragedy to mankind.
We are opposed to tho equal rights
OF woman-we want her to ever re.
main our superior. We consider
woman's desire TO seek mans level
| tho yellow peril of TWentieth Cpptury