Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-29

the power to make laws to enforce her
good moral training, then ana not uh :
til then, will Young Americas morals
reach the high standard set by our
best people. who by the way do NOT
happen to be our rich class as we all
know.
The ants state that only a small
minority Of women desire the vote
PERHAPS we are in the minority as
every otheragood and sound movement
always has been in its infancy but we
are composed Of women who THINK.
We are far less easily Influenced by
expensive clothes, social functions and
political pulls than those women VINO
cry against US and by SO doing prove
themselves to be helpless dependents
whereas the Lord meant us to be a
true helpmate and to work in double
yoke with our husbands.
We ardently desire the vote for we
are truly convinced that by broaden
ing our power we can also broaden our
influence for good, sane, moral living
conditions in every way, and especial
~ in way as proved by my second
argument. Men have proved that the
ballot, or the power to demand. is the
only real power: then we are only ask
ing for power to enforce our living
standards which are not Influenced by
the red light district or the liquor
traffic We would Danish these from
the face Of the earth, and every man
with q spark Of manhood will vote
Eyes" on woman suffrage to give us
rover to do this If for nothing else.
When he stops to realize the damage
done to the morals OF his children and
perhaps himself he will desire coop
Grafton from his wife with himself in
fighting these evils.
The ants say that 1.-THE vote Is not
natural right" Men have not al
ways had the natural right to vote, as
we find in history. 1t was only by
demanding voice in the government
that they obtained the vote. We are
but asking an equal right and we
surely deserve it. for women have
proved themselves everywhere equal
to man, in any way, during this war.
The smartest aviator in the world is
an American woman, and Canadians,
English and French have come to this
country to take lessons from her. 1t
takes brains. courage and executive
ability to fill this and many other
dangerous positions which women are
filing in the present era. There Is no
question as to our natural right to the
vote at all. When any one, whether
man or woman, proves themselves fit
ted for q position they have natural
right to that position.
The ants say "Woman's place Is in
the home" We suggest that these
ants practice their own doctrine. Let
them stay quietly at home. instead of
spending thousands of dollars giving
lectures as they do. Let them rear a
family and put IS Of the "a hours into
training these children in the straight
and narrow path. and we shall then
learn that they too will desire a voice
in the making Of laws to protect their
offspring from the many traps and
vices now existing. It is only when
women have no responsibility that
they desire no power. If these ANTS
had any occupation of material use to
the. world if they We're forced to earn
their living by the sweat Of their
hrows. they would not desire to see
themselves or any woman with no
power to better her working and iiv-
working hours to her endurance, and
to set a fair wage for her valuable
work.
The factories where many women
work render them unfit to be mothers,
or il they rear children. the offspring
is defective both physically and men,
tally. Each generation gets worse.
We do not wonder when we under
stand these conditions that there is
only one in about every six fit for
army life.
Perhaps these ant!s desire this very
condition to exist as It allows them to
exist In life Of ease. and pampers
their already utter uselessness.
We believe firmly that every man
with vote will be far sighted enough
to see the benefit Of woman suffrage
to himself. his family and his country
and will go to the polls determined to
vote Eyes" despite any political boss
or financial persuasion brought to
bear on him to the contrary.
Equal Rights.