New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-25
"A Priceless Jewel
|If an Ex-Convict May Vote, Why
Should Not Women

TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr.. r. G. Hazards reply to Judge
wadhams and Everett P. Colby is not so
much an argument against woman suffrage
as a protest against democracy In fact,
that is the fundamental difference between
the sutfragists and the anti-sutfragists. 1t
is democracy versus autocracy here at home
as we'll as over the Every statement
Mr. Hazard makes, from his definition Of the
ballot to his phrase "the common level"
proves his disbelief in democratic form Of
government
He finds the ballot IAN irksome burden"
We who advocate a fuller democracy do not
consider the ballot burden" We believe
with the leading statesmen and patriots OF
our land, from Benjamin Franklin to Wood
row Wilson, that it is the badge Of self
government, the weapon of protection for
every citizen of proper age and morality,
the heritage which our fathers won for US
and for which all lovers Of human liberty
will continue to fight until the world is a
true democracy. Had Germany recognized
the right and duty of its people to have q
voice in its government the world would not
be engaged in this awful death struggle Of
to-day. 1t was autocracy that made the war.
Governor Whitman in restoring to Joe Cas-
sidy his vote wnen he was pardoned out Of
prison said the ballot was "a priceless
Jewell" and therefore he felt it should be
given back, even to q man who had abused it.
Mr.. Hazard says that women must be
asked for their consent to vote before they
are enfrsnchised Unfortunately, there is
not constitution in any state which permits
women to decide this question. Only electors
can vote upon amendments This rule ex-
cludes women except in the suffrage states.
Massachusetts, took mock referendum In
1895. Had the women's vote settled the mat
ter suffrage would have been won on that day.
The noes were s61, the yeas 22,204. The
mems vote was overwhelmingly against Less
than one-sixth Of per cent Of the women
voted no. Where arc the 20 to Of which Mr..
Hazard spsaks7 The anti-sufragists try TO
escape this result by claiming that all who
did not vote were on their side. That Is a
pure assumption on their part, and one that
Is never applied to any other political de-
cision.
But Mr. Hazard tells us that women have
always been able to get what they wanted
without the vote in New York State, Have
they? wonder II the gentleman has heard
of the Brown bills which passed the last
Legislature in spite of the protest of women ?
Those bills allowed the Industrial Commits
sion to set aside all laws restricting the
working hours Of women and children. Only
the veto Of Governor Whitman, a sufYragist,
saved US from this pernicious law. But we
forget that Mr.. Hazard does not believe
women should be on the common level"
This Is another most undemocratic phrase.
The working women Of our state whom the
sufragists tried to protect are on the "com-
mon level"
Mr.. Hazards remark In regard to the an
archists and feminists who swell our parades
is especially funny in the face Of facts.
Emma Goldman, the leading anarchist in this
country. is an avowed anti-sufragst. She
is an ally Of Mr.. Hazard. As for "feminists,"
that term includes all women who believe in
the development Of women. An anti-suffra-
gist who addresses a public gathering is a
feminist, and would have shocked the sensi-
bilities of all conservatives like Mr.. Hazard
fifty years ago.
Is II not time, In these trying hours when
democracy is threatened, for all loyal Amer
leans to array themselves on the side of de-
mocracy at home as we'll as abroad?
HARRIET MAY MILLS.
Syracuse, N. Y, Oct. %, 1917.