Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-26
limes-Dispatch Readers Discuss Votes
tor Women and Other Topics of Moment

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
| Sir.-The answer to the question as
10 whether or not 1t is right for wo-
men TO have the ballot. and II 1t is
r!sht why, seems to me so simple tina,
nave been surprised that your cor
respondents have had to wage such a
war OF words over it,
In my opinion. 1t Is right that wo-
men should be permitted to vote be-
cause it is just that they should be,
right.
Those Of us who really believe in
whom God has selected TO be The
mother Of men and women alike, and
mas entrusted with the early training
Of both sexes, is in the great majority
OF cases sound OF heart and of mind.
measures and their influence in public
Affairs to b. as wholesome as il gen
orally is in private matters: but the
r niii question is not as to what she
any more than there is any question
as to what boy who. arrives at the
that age the ballot becomes his auto
lnatlcaily because II is just that he
shall have voice in making the laws
"a. .nat age ne may come into inherited
estate a.h tor BECOME a breadwinner. or
taxed TO support his toxin and state.
And II is right and just that ne shouin
a.
should be spent. He has arrived al
Sponsibili,iss OF manhood; nc may
family 1t is right and just that he
should have voice in dcciding con
ditlons under which he and such family
because the ballot is the only mcanu
BY which he can express his wish
ard 3us, that he should have it. 1t is
his duty 10 desire to have it. and il
rs ms a 9o 70 t1r use IL He should take
may vote intel!igently, and no matter
how he votes this effort must develop
ms thinking powers and his character.
t i,i mar Of him Nobody can vote for
nim, HIS vote is mis-. and his only.
II ne is convinced that certain policy
Is right and by his infiuencc gains for
an1ther's vote. yet withholds his
Own. he IS shirker.
The same may be said OF girl who
arrives at the age Of womenhood IL
Is impossible that any laws under which
she has TO live are more Important
70 her brother or her husband ;han
iney are 10 her. In tremendously in
earning money which is subject to
taxation II is right and Just that she
should express her wishes as 10 how
thus contributed should be spent. 1:
Is her duiy TO desire this privilege.
her children and other women and chill
dren are enacted. God has given her
a mind. 1t is right that she should
use II TO help TO determine the right
cousncss Of such laws and 10 DO her
best both the indirect Influence Of
peTsuasioh and the. direct influence
OF the ballot. to see that good ones are
"rItten upon the statute books
should ask tho men" 70. what she
wants and that in that way she viii
always get II, is absurd. a woman
who is h!est with 4 generous father or
husband viii doubtless get all OF tn.
comforts and Injuries within his power
TO give her, but the only men who can
say tina, she shall Eve under wise
and just laws are the law-m makers
themselves. and the only practical
form into which she can put a request
to them is by the ballot.
II one of these lawmakers receives
a petition in the interest of any special
measure he at once searches among
the signatures attached TO It for the
names OF the voters who put him in
office. II Gin State WHERE women
only womens names. he throws IN.
petition away. as worthless. II in the
same stat. he finds the names OF the
male relatives OF the same women,
the petition assumes the Importance %:
a demand. Every single member OF
every law making hody. whether il be
city council, state legislature. or ma
tional Congress, knows that this is
true.
repeat tina; II is RICH, that women
should be allowed 10 vote because il
IS just that she should be given Thu
only way possible OF expressing her