Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-04-16
WHY MRS. DUPONT
IS A SUFFRACIST
Among Other Reasons, She's
Tired of Being Repre-
scented" by Some
One Else
SAYS OPPOSITION
Is ONLY PREJUDICE

One of the most interesting ad-
dresses on Womans Suffrage ever
heard in this city. was that which was
delivered in Pythian Castle on last
Friday evening, at the convention OF
the Delaware Branch Of the National
Woman's Party. by Mrs. Victor du-
Pont. Sr.. a prominent sufragist or
this State. The subject of her address
was "Why I Am a Sufragist.' Her ad-
dress follows.
When. on APRIL 2, President Wilson
made his memorable address to Con
gress. toward the conclusion, he used
these words-'the right is more pre-
cious than peace. and we shall fight
for the things that we have always
carried nearest our hearts-for de-
nocracy-for the right of those who
submit TO authority TO have voice
in their own governments IL would
be impossible for any one to give
clearer or more concise definition OF
the fundamental principle OF woman
suffrage right of those who sub
NIT to authority TO have voice IN
their own governments"
1T has recently been asserted in
this city, that the supporters Of woman
suffrage say the same thing over and
over again-that they never offer new
arguments, and TO some extent that
is true The fundamental principle is
so clear-drawn on such straight and
simple lines, that nothing can be adj
ded TO IL. There is no more scope for
argument. than there would be 10 the
assertion that right is right and wrong
is wrong. Even the opponents OF it do
not claim that it is wrong in principle,
but base their opposition on prejudice
or preference-party reasons or sem
timent-with a very large percentage
OF sentiment Now. sentiment is not
business-it carries absolutely no
weight whatever in the transaction OF
business. and we suffragists mean
business. Men say that they do not
want woman suffr9ge-that 1t would
do no good-that IL is not necessary.
etc. but they never claim that II Is FUN
damentally erroneous. ! have heard
men say. in support of their OppOsi-
ton. that they did not want the women
OF their families 10 mingle with the
general public at the polls yet they
offer no objection to their doing so on
other occasions. They do not disap-
prove of their riding In the street cars,
or on the railway trains-of their
stand in line at ticket Offices, or
going to the theatre or moving pic
lures. Here in Wilmington, men do not
object to their wives and daughters
going TO market on King street, yet
II there ever was place where wOmer
rub shoulders with every Tom. Dicl
and Harry, It is on King street, II
this city, on any Saturday morning
But they draw the line at the polls
where occasionally II would take
woman but a few minutes 10 cast he
ballot
For myself ! have never been able
to see how IL could unseN a women C
take a reasonable and intelligent in
terest in the welfare of her country
and ! consider the woman who says
she cannot do so, without neglectinl
her domestic and social duties. to bC
making a confession of inefiiciency
and very limited mentality. You never
hear Il said that a President of Z
railroad or the treasurer OF bank
ought not TO vote. because If he die
he could not attend TO his business
It is claimed by some, that womeI
are represented at the polls by the
men of their families. but that has
not been my experience. My fathc
was a Democrat-my husband was
Democrat-my son was a Democrat
while /, from sincere conviction, am