New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-14
GIVE WOMEN REAL EQUALITY
Not Special Legislative Protection AL.
but Mental Training Needed
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: woman writing, February
your columns said: "If equality mean,
thing, It means the repeal Of all pro,...9
and legislative laws for women" As,,, a.
is the consensus Of opinion that u, -.
cannot survive unless the special n.eS, :,
women are recognized"
With this sentence in my mind I ,.,.,
to find out how much womsn's special n,...
were recognized. / entered a crowded =,
where many tired looking women v,-
standing, and took my place among the ,t,,.
hangers, some holding little children. I :,
tered large department store and so,..
very young girls and gray-hsired won,
working under the same conditions A, n.
interviewed many girls from the shoo, u,
were running machines side by side ~,
men, under exactly the same condition, :,
cept as to wages. In looking at all ts,.
women thought recognized the @su,,,
need of women; but to give women pOlit
cal equality and one moral standard for al
just to do justice TO beth parts Of him.,
ity-will not change the nature Of eith., q,
As we'll say It will make women t.tL.,,
and men mothers.
The delicate carriage horse has nor. IA.
equality with the heavy beast Of burden A.,
no one would think OF treating both An,
The common sense of most men will md,
equality Of mind regard the special pro,;,..
of women with more respect.
! am a suffragist because | believe d..
upon women must be placed the rcsDo,,
bility Of motherhood People would h,r.
us believe that to feed, clothe and send "A.
children TO school is the whole duty !,
women. believe the mother should b.
thinking woman. believe that cone,pt,s,
should not be an accident Of passion bp,
condition in which the mind as well a. -,
body takes part.
Trace, II you will, the rise and fall a, NJ,
tons. Where is the historian who hs, ,y,
told the real cause.-The degenersey tr,t !
mind, then Of the physical. Consider a.
influence of woman, a mother, equal IN >,
sponsibility to her husband, having Ii. tr.s
ing Of family. Read the lives OF ora,
men and find out from whom they inherit,
their mental ability and their moral streny,.
Give US equality and the adjustment o, .,
positions will follow Motherhood wa. a.,
the prize that women coveted. and 4 N
again be the greatest honor. for cher "a
dren shall rise up and call her blessed
If women could have congenial and Ssvsl
oping work, be lifted from the drudgerv an
monotony of a system which is killing ever
thing fine in the race, then We might h,v
hope for the future generation. That won,
are in ammunition factories is enough I
make one believe in hell and the tev
Women did not want war; neither do he
want TO make bullets to kill men. Do 70
think woman, clasping her own son to h
heart, would strike down another wonsn
son? No, it is the awful, ghastly pov.rs
wolf at the door that has driven them
bury their womanhood and become huni
beasts.
Back of all this lies the awful fact
women, how can you face it-that IL 70
who had the training Of all men in the vit
world had done your duty your sons wosl
not now be making Europe one vast grsH
yard. Women are responsible for the min.
think Of it, o mothers, no power In tine
eternity can obliteratc the lessons you ~
teach!
Why have women not realized this' b
cause they have been kept in subjection
man, and in the isolation Of their hon
have never known what a wonderful :,
terrible thing it was to be the mother Z
children.
Again, l say give us equality. Let %
minds be born anew-compel US 10 think
that we may be fit to rear the supermen %
women of the future, when humanity and Ii
brotherhood of mankind shall be our rehl
ion; when a mans wife shall be his con
rsde and companion; when csnnibaiistl
greed shall be no more, but the world sh'
give of its abundance 10 all.
LUCIA ~ oLIyURE
Schenectady, n. Y, Feb. 3, 1917.