Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-02-28
Suffrage Morals
Pilloried by Woman
Who Deplores Plan
Suffrage and immortality.

TO the Editor of The Republican:
In 1915, when the question of woman
suffrage was brought to our state legis-
Iature for decision, you very kindly al
lowed me to use the columns of The
Republican for the presentation of va
rious aspects of this subject. May |
again request this privilege in COM
menting on two aspects of this same
subject as they now appear in the
states of New York and Illinois, the
moral and the economic?
The Socialists have slogan, every
Socialist is suffragist," and official
banners used in suffrage parades have
Haunted the statement 100000 So
cialists vote and work for woman suf-
frage." No one disputes the right of
the Socialists to work for suffrage, but
the fact that they are so unitedly IN
favor of it gives us food for thought.
For we know that the community liv-
ing demanded by the Socialists means
the destruction of the home and of so
cial morals as they now exist Mrs.
Winifred Harper Cooley, daughter OF
Ida Hustled Harper, the official histori-
an of the National American Suffrage
Association, publicly states that 1.-The
Younger feminists consider that the
day is rapidly approaching when to be
supported by a man in return for sex
ual privileges, or mere general house
keeping, or to be paid for motherhood,
will be morally revolving to every self
respecting wife. The younger
generation of franchise seekers con-
slider the vote the merest tool, means
to an end-that end being a complete
social revolution
The late Anna Howard Shaw, who
spent most of her life working for the
suffrage cause, said: II would like to
make motherhood a governmental in
stitution. would pension all mothers
and have them provided for first to
last by the state. / believe that moth
erhood should be independent of any
man."
At suffrage convention in Chicago,
where the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw
presided as president of the National
Suffrage Association, Prof. w. l.
Thomas of Chicago University, in his
address, made the following assertions:
"The child, by the act of its birth, is
made legitimate. WOman'S
assertion of her right to motherhood
is n revolution and no one can stop it.
Afterward Dr. Shaw commented upon
Professor Thomas address to the ef-
feet that "the address has set every
woman who heard it thinking.
Political emancipation is not the only
emancipation. ,There is greater free
dom which women must gain, the free
dom of social relations. Professor
Thomas took the proper place to eX-
press those views"
Evidence of similar convictions on
the part of many other prominent suf-
frage leaders could be presented, but
it is not necessary at this time, as
DR.. Shaws ideas make the issue suf-
ficiently clear. The leading suifraglsts
are working for the adjustment OF
marriage and the home, and the sub
stitution therefor of state care Tor
children, which means universal or
phanhood, and the inevitable result
universal immortality The decent men
and vrtuOuS women of our state
should understand what they are doing
when they demand woman suffrage.
The experience of New York is an
example of the socialistic effects or
suffrage. In the gubernatorial election
of 1918, when women first voted, the
upstate vote outside of New York city
increased only % per cent over the
previous election, while the Tammany
machine vote in the city increased "a
per cent, the Socialist vote in the state
increased 1873 per cent, and in the city
800 per cent. 1t is evident that social
ism and suffrage are intimately asso-
ciated in our neighboring state.
The Chicago official election report
of 1918 shows expenditure of S55l,S54
for 1922 registered women voters,
or S2.S7 each, and this includes only
the cost of registering votes, not in
creased office holding, commissions,
extravagant boards, committees, and
'jobs" for female relatives of poll
ticans, etc. Does New Jersey want to
vote for suffrage, socialism and this
added burden on the taxpayer?
MRS. JOHN ]. PHELPS.