Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-02
FAvORS ALLOWING SUFFRAGE
AS ANO1IIEK STEP FORWARD

To the Editor Of The Times Dispatch:
Sir-The letter by Nellie Parker
amazes me as much as the Presidents
message to the Virginia Legislature
amazes her. My Amusement Is due to
the fact that not single argument or
reason is given why the state Lcgisla-
tuEc should reject the proposed amend
mcnt TO the National Constitution.
am not sunragist nor do l regard
Woodrow Wilson as infaliible or even
q great leader, but / should hardly
consider myself as democratic il | did
not welcome the expression Of his
subject before the people OF the nation.
Unless the members OF our State Leg
islature are mere rubber stamps they
VIII vote as independently after con-
siderinS the Presidents message as
they would II that same message had
come from Carrie Chapman Gait. and
50 | cannot share Nellie Parker Hem
sons anxiety over the "encroachment
upon the rights and dignity of the high
office" OF the State Legislators. Surely
these custodians of the great State OF
Virginia. the birthplace of Washing
ton, Jackson and Lee" have sufficient
backbone to withstand the academic
plea OF one man. even though he hap
pens to be at this time the President
OF the United States. unless the plea
actually converts them to new and
higher view. Being Southern men,
sons OF Confederate soldiers" should
increase their feeling OF responsible
ny as trustees OF the interests OF the
State. and tend 20 stiren their verte-
brai columns. II. however. seems 20
state legislators. whatever their pedi-
gree may be. are honestly convinced
that the women o. Virginia may as
safely be entrusted with the right to
vote as are the men of the State. It
is even conceivable that many OF them
have an honest conviction that if il
was "henpeckins" that made ten States
vote SO quickly and unanimously IN
favor OIL the Susan 2. Anthony amend
mcnt, It might be splendid thing l.
good old Virginia were 20 become in
"henpeckinE." OF course. the amend
ment will carry in sufficient number
OF States 10 make IL part OF the fun
damental law OF the land. whether Viz
nately, the law will still leave US
women free TO vote or not to vote as
~e may prefer.
The fear Of the author of that letter
that States rights" are menaced
seems TO me quite groundless. state
boundaries are quite arbitrary lines
mink more in terms OF the actual
people OF division of our nation than
IN terms OF that more or less myth
isa ord ha5y thing desiGna It,, by Ihe
sons statement quoted by the writer
or that letter: we may. with equal
truth. say; The counties are vital
system" Counties are doing more for
the districts and towns within their
borders than they did a generation
ago; States are doing more tor their
counties. and the national government
Is doing much more for the people OF
the various States All this really rep
resents increasing co-opera ufon be
tween the county government and the
governments OF it's subdivision: be-
tween the State and the counties and
retwecn the national government and
the governments OF the States. Such
cooperation means progress. for
through IL the progress made BY ora
state or by one group OF States is
more quickly transplanted 10 all the
other States. II We really believe in
democracy, II we have faith in human
kind, then we cannot but regard the
present worldwide movement for wo-
man suffrage as an important step in
human progress. Already number OF
European states. including Great Brit
ain. Russia and even Germany, have
adopted woman suffrage. and every
Northern state OF this country is prac.
tica!ly sure 10 vote favorably on the
proposed Federal amendment. 1t would
hardly be in keeping with the progress
siNe spirit OF such great Virginians as
Washington. Jefferson, Henry, Mar
shall. Monroe and many others OF the
period TO which these belonged II the
Old Dominion should now go on record
as opposed TO this important step in
the evolution OF human society
GENEN1EVE S. GERRITS
Spring Grove, Va, August % 1919