Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-13
Consider These Points


Years ago the Kennebec Journal took
a stand for equal suffrage for citizens
rover faltered in its course or seen a
single reason to change its convictions.
We have been unable to discover an
argument against the activity of wom-
en- in political affairs that does not ap-
ply with equal force to men.
If intelligent, high minded female
citizens are not permitted voice in pub
lie affairs, it is certain that illiterate,
immoral degenerate, booze soaked male
citizens should not be allowed to per-
vert the publics best interests. On the
other hand, the anti suffrage cry that
there are immoral and depraved women
everywhere first awakened our spirit of
justice to the real hypocrisy.
If intellectual women who oppose
suffrage know as much about polling
places as they pretend, then they know
OF the class of men whose votes and
the very things aga nst which the
church, the grange, and every other
moral influence are fighting. on that
score, the anti suffra gsts argue that
women should hold themselves aloof
from such places-and. in the next
breath, tell Of depraved women who
would demoralize politics.
Because Of this hypocrisy we have
refused to publish the propaganda of
the anti-suffrage organizations, ami
have confined them to news" reports
OF their activities. OF late. however.
the anti suffrage headquarters at Port
land has bombarded us with arguments
that might, if widely circulated, mis-
lead the unthinking. The following, re-
ceived Saturday morning. is a specimen
= letter:
The amendment to the Constitution
granting suffrage to women on equal
terms with men reads, in part as follows:
The right to vote or to mold Office shall
not be denied or abridged on account of
sex"
OF course the right to vote implies the
fright to be voted for. Now is Maine
ready for the female Office holder or Of
nee seeker, the female politician the fe-
male party boss?
Never doubt but that she will be here
1T the opportunity is given. Every shade
of male politician will have his feminine
duplicate Human nature has been
equally distributed between the sexes
Men OF Maine you know what politics
IRE II women vote politics will NOT he
dlnefent will no
you want to take the chances? If not
vote NO on September 10
The inconsistency of the above argu-
ment is amazing when we remember
That the superlative claim of the ants
1s that woman does not want the bal
hot" and does not and will not use it
where conferred. And yet in the above
we are told Never doubt but that she
will be here if the opportunity is,
given"
That argument strikes us as chean
attempt to scare ward heelers and
plug-uglies, usually in the service of
the liquor interests and proprietors Of
orothels, into activity against the wave
OF suffrage now spreading. Who else
could have been intended? Certainly.
not such voters as the editors of this
newspaper (Who modestly admit to
knowing something of the political
game) for we would most heartily well
come the change from some of the
present brand of politicians to that of
high class, ambitious women.
And then this anti suffrage philoso-
pher goes on:
are"
aes, ma'am. we do.
II women vote politics will not be diff.
1erent but women will he different"
= fortunately our ant-suffrage friends
unsupported declaration does not make
X so-in fact, observation in and stat
istics from suffrage commemorative
prove quite the contrary-but if il did
we should welcome the change in wo-
man from the citizen helpless before
grave evils that affect her home and
life, to the moral agent unswerved in
sher determination TO throttle certain
dragons that men keep around.
DO you want to take the chances?'
We shall certainly vote for the
Chances" II we can get to the polls
on Sept. 10.
1t will be the biggest Yes" we can
get into the ballot box.