Smyrna times., 1928-01-25
REFUSING TO VOTE,
WOMEN QUOTE BIBLE
They Nearly Stump Judge,
but Are Fined.

Brussels.-From the little town of
Zeist in Holland, not far from Doom,
comes a story of forty women who
would not vote. Not only did they
neglect to vote, but they refused to
do SO on conscientious grounds, and
the courtroom scene which followed
taxed the Scriptural knowledge of the
Judge
All forty were summoned to appear
before the local magistrate of Zeist to
explain their delinquency. But thirty
eight of these wise women decided not
10 lower their dignity, so they sent
man delegate to present a written
pleading to the effect that their con
sciences would not permit them to 60
to the polls.
Excuse Astonishes Judge.
True Puritan women cannot do IN
womanly things just because the pope
and the Socialist leaders would be
pleased at this" wrote the nonvoting
thirty-eight. That in itself sufficiently
astonished the good judge. Then, on
behalf of the women the delegate
quoted a verse from Proverbs: Her
husband IS known il the gates. when
he sitteth among the elders Of the
land" The women added that nothing
was said in the Bible about a woman
sitting in the gates. 1T is not fit
place for her and she has nothing to
debate with the elders of the land"
rUI,o suJro v.os coorobipO bic NOM
ory for suitable quotation from the
Scriptures which would show why
women should sit with the elders
when a woman appeared before the
bench carrying huge family Bible.
"This man has been pleading On be-
half of thirty-eight Of u.s." she de-
cIared to the judge. Il will plead
myself for the two remaining women
who didn't vote"
She opened her Bible and began TO
quote, first one verse from one book,
then another from different book.
The Judge tried To intervene, but the
woman who would not vote had no
trouble at all with her speaking facul-
ties. She repeatedly silenced the
Judge and proceeded with the next
quotation. Unquestionably she had her
case well prepared
LET your women keep silence be
for the community" she read from
Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
For It is not permitted unto them to
speak and if they will learn
anything let them ask their husbands
at home, for It Is shame for women
to speak before the community"
Court Quotes Bible.
But the judge had now recovered to
parry quotation for quotation
You have quoted Proverbs 81 %, .
he stated with dignity. "Wil you
allow me to quote Proverbs 81 :26?"
The Dutch woman was still in the
middle Of Corinthians and tried hur-
riedly to gat relocated. But the judge
had already started
she openeth her mouth with Wis
DOM he read solemnly, "and her
tongue is the law Of Kindness
Quite uninhuenced by the judges
comeback, the defendant picked a
verbal missile from Genesis. And
thy desire shall be to thy husband and
he shall rule over thee" she declared
emphatieally. only to follow that up
with half a dozen quotations 50 rap
idly that the judge found it imnossi-
bic to speak a word.
But courts have ways Of their own.
Seeing he couldn't hope to outquote
his antagonist, especially since she be
trayed no great aptitude for standing
by plea that women should keep
silence before the community, the
judge finally found an opportunity to
announce he would deliver his verdict
BY writing.
Ills decree stated that each of tho
forty women who would not vote
should nay a fine to the state-ffteer
or twenty forms each But the judge
included no Biblical quotations.