New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-22

One does not have TO turn 70 war alone
10 find the fruit of mans handiwork. There
is trouble enough in the paths Of peace.
From the management or Encouragement of
private business and public corporations
tc the handling of affairs of state there IS
the same lop-sdedness and lack of human
feeling. One has only to consider seriously
for few moments the workings and ways
Of the various houses of parliament, senates
legislative assemblies and the like with
which We are in these days so plentlfully
supplied, the men who are there and the
manner in which they are elected or put
there, and the amount of really useful work
they accomplish, TO be filled with wonder at
the patience or apathy of the masses OF the
PEOPLE who pay the piper and put up with It,
II becomes increasingly evident that there
was more common sense than sarcasm IN
Carlyle's query of Emerson as 70 whether
he did not believe in the devil now" after
they had listened for some time to debate
in the British House of Commons.
An Antiquated System
Whether or not women would make better
legislators than men is not quite the point.
The point is that the whole system is get
ting antiquated and out of date. OF one
thing, however there is little doubt: If
women had any say in such matters much
CT the solemn humbug and pretentious non
sense that characterize the proceedings and
deliberations of these quaint assemblages of
elected masculine wisdom would disappear at
once and forever. Practical common sense
would largely replace time -honored custom.
Further, one does not need to be very bold
20 assert that if women were given the power
70 deal with many Of our present day social
problems (Which are really not problems at
alb they would be solved with rapidity that
would horrfy the modern parliamentarian.
Imagine a committee of mothers dealing with
sums! The mldest mothers you could lay
your hands on would become vessels OF
wrath for the nonce. The wealthy property
owner might perchance have rather a rough
time, and it is possible we might not hear
much about the Fundamental principles OF
economies" But things would happen. AS
for sexual evils and the like, how these
have not been handed over to women to deal
with long ago can only be regarded as fur
Their proof Of prodigious masculine ego
tism.
Is it not a remarkable thing. when we
consider it calmly and in cold blood, that
men should sit in judgment at all on mat
ters that relate solely and simply TO women?
d,
toned the regulation Of female labor in
factories-or anywhere for that matter the
white slave" question; the training and edu-
cation of girls. which may be said to be
essentially women's problems, but which are
dealt with almost exclusively at the present
time by men.
Not the Proper Channel
We sometimes hear it said that woman
20 hav ho N no q
and controlling of the destnies of a nation
from the fact that so many wives exert
certain influence on so many husbands,
mothers on sons. and sisters on brothers.
That there is such an influence is undenable,
and doubtless it has worked wonders. But
it is not the proper channel for the flow of
feminine enerp", and it is grossly unfair
that woman should be able TO express her
self only through the medium of man. 1t is
gh time she had hand in the direct man
agement Of things.
One can easily imagine the feelings of the
average man If it we're suddenly put to him
that henceforth certain matters pertaining 20
his manner of life would be ordered and
regulated BY women. It would appear TO him
such an diotic proceeding as to rouse him
b a very high pitch of Indignation doubt
less with good cause. And that is just the
Gay tin spite of all our boosted advance
ment) in almost every single matter relat-
ing either to herself. purely and simply, or
&c her status in society generally. Every
thing must conform to masculine standards.
While it might be conceded that from the
greater liberty he enjoys and the latitude
Lc allows himself in all walks of life, with
the consequent widening of his horizon and
broadening of his perspective as compared
with that of woman, man is fitted to, deal
with purely feminine questions better than
woman would be to deal with purely mascu-
line ones. it is rank nonsense TO suppose that
he can understand her troubles better than
She can herself II is difficult to see how any
sensible person could seek to defend such
an untenable position, vet do not doubt
that many men would attempt it right man
fully-to such an extent have time and Gus
tom brought man TO think of himself
the superior animal.
We may as we'll face the business soberly
and look at it from all angles. Most Of us,
fancy. at this time of day can see little but