The Colorado statesman., 1920-07-24

DEN VEN, CULON ADO, d
all others spring, in which they
merge and without which they fall
whenever assailed. 1t may be with
held by force; but if withheld by
reason of sex it is moral robbery"
When the Fourteenth Amendment
was under discussion in the United
States Senate a member said, "Suf-
frage is a political right which the
few may give or withhold at pleas
ure." Let that idea," replied
Charles Sumner, "crystalize in the
minds of the American people and
you have Fung the death knell OF
American liberties" A few days ago
a U. S. senator declared that the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
of the Constitution should be abol-
ished. Whittier are we tending!
Abraham Lincoln once said, NO
man is good enough to govern anoth-
er man without that mans consent,
suffragists contend that no man is
good enough to govern that woman
without that woman's consent.
The struggle for human liberty is
the very heart of history. Through
all the ages men have struggled Tor
it.
Yes, even men and women of our
own age who have few civil rights
and are denied full representation IN
this great government which calls 1t
self a democracy, rule of the peo-
ple-are still contending for this
priceless jewel. The question has
been asked, "Are women people"
If so, why should they have to fight
for liberty in this so-called republic?
1t has been declared ever since that
little "Tea Party" in Boston Harbor
that there shall be no taxation with
out representation, yet thousands of
women who pay taxes on large hold
ings have not trace of representa-
tiOD.
The reason why women teachers
are underpaid is that they have no
vote. This is evidenced by the fact
that male teachers receive two and
three times the compensation to
women teachers, who do the same
and often better work. One does not
wonder at this when it is remembered
that teachers salaries are decided by
school committees elected in every
town and city by the votes of men
alone. 1t is apparent at glance
that the discrepancy grows directly
out of the fact that disfranchised
class has no political power. In
states where universal suffrage pre-
walls this discrepancy has been
remedied.
A standing argument against
woman suffrage is, that women
could not go to the polls without
being insulted. This has been
prophesied since 1S4S and has never
scored a hit.
Another is: "She is too pure,
noble and capable to mix up in dirty
politics." There is not single op-
lection made to woman's suffrage
that is tenable. If our chivalrous
brothers think woman so capable, SO
pure and worthy, why do they re
fuse her assistance? Where is the
consistency in attributing ability and
denying any play for its exerciseI
Why not let women help "clean up
those "dirt politics?"
The noble women who sacriflce9
their lives for suffrage and kindred
causes would rejoice to see this day.
Among our own peerless CHAR
acters we think of that fearless
champion of human rights, Harriet
Tubman, the moses, Gou ihePii ou,
leading her people from benighted
Egypt to the land of light and I'D
erty. .s
Sojourner Truth who startled the
Woman Suffrage convention IN
Akron, Ohio, in 1851 by thrilling
and dramatic advocacy of the rights
of women and continued her fight
through a long life even unto death.
Frances E. w. Harper and FANNIE
J. Coppin, women who lowered in
courage, strength and love for the
women of the world in their strug-
gle, for freedom of thought OF
speech and action.
These women stod shoulder TO
shoulder with Lucy Cady stanton
Mary A. Livermore and Susan b.
Anthony The latter taught the
writer, while girl in school, the
great principles underlying TINS
question and inspired her to become
a voice for the women of her race.
We were with Miss Anthony in sew
eral great world movements lot
women in this country and IN
Europe. She was the grand uncom-
promising woman until the last. Her
clear, strong voice; her splendld