Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-16
FROM OTHER VIEWPOINTS
P1CKLING A ROD FOR SOUTHERN STATES
ALFRED WILLIAMS.

Woman suffrage was the provocation
Cor brisk running debate in the Sen
ate on an idle day last week. Senn-
tor Reed. Of Missouri, began it, He
expressed his disgust with the illegal
demonstrations of the suffrage advo-
Gates before the White House. evil
IDENTIFY intended to insult or intimidate
III" President. Senator'S favoring suf-
traEr were quick to answer that the
women engaged in these affairs were
irrudiatcd by the masses OF the suf-
!ragists. Mr.. Reed rctortcd that the
rioters and their less aggressive sis
i"rs and brethren OF the cause had been
lobbying together at the Capitol many
months. using the same methods of in
ru"nrc. calling each other by their
Christian names and apparently on
terms OF the most ancctionate intimacy
aud mutual cooperation. lie quoted
tho boasts of tho leaders Of the general
movement that they have carefully pre-
pared histories Of the political. per-
ronai and family lives OF all members
OF Congress and memoranda OF tho
means and influences by which they
may be controlled. He remarked Of
the campaign OF persistent personal
pressure. lin point OF impudencc and
in point OF threatening / do not think
It's parallel has been furnished in the
history OF our governments" Other
Senator's declared that men daring 10
approach them as the female lobbyists
DO would be thrown downstairs or out
OF the window. They indicated that
the average American man Is so train
cd 10 defer 10 the women he is sup
posed to Cypress and deprive that tho
habi, frequently ovcrcomes his sense
and conscience.
Like methods OF persuasion, threat
and us" OF sex power Will be applied
TO every member Of every State Leg
islaiurc If the pending resolutions arc
adopted By Congress. Tho woman
leaders openly say that they are tired
OF trusting 10 the secret ballot OF pop
ular elections. Therefore they demand
that the ratification OF the proposed
amendment To the Federal Constitution
shall be left TO the Legislatures of the
respective States that individual pres
sure may be applied personally on
every member.
The South never has considered scri-
ousl! IN" danger involved in this prop
usItIon The foundation principle on
which the demand for woman suffrage
ostcnsibly is based IS tho aOsurtlly mis-
construed declaration that government
derives It's only just powers from the
consent OF the governed. This was
proclaimed when there was no though.
OF woman suffrage by anybody and be-
Tore even universal manhood suffrage
'."'' S''I"!uc!cu. mere at The
South "c repudiatc IL consistently be-
cause our safety requires US to do So
ihose women who quote il so solemn
~ at Washington tell us here smuclv
ana Sib!y that wc can manage the
Vote X IL proposed TO confer on tho
co!ored women: suppress il in one way
or another simply double the mum.
her OF voters to whom We deny the
ballot the number OF the governed
whose consent do NOT ash
II Is time far honest and frank
talking and speaking and for looking
in the face Of the facts. however ugly
they may be- The white people in this
section hold power only by suffcrance
Of their fcllow-citizcns OF other sections
who realize that The last great expert.
mcnt in extending suffrage was a
hidcous mistake and crime. a decision
of the United Stalls Supreme Court or