Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1915 — WHY SHOULD WOMEN VOTE? [ARTICLE]

WHY SHOULD WOMEN VOTE?

WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF LEADING . FARMERS. S Why should women vote? That Is the question that is ringing from ocean to ocean and reverberating from the Canadian boundary to the Mexican border. It is the mission of a newpaper to give the news and the actioA of the Texas Farmer*’ Dnioh in opposing woman’s suffrage wfen that question was recently before the Texas legislature is significant as representing the attitude of the or gantzed plowmen. We reproduce la part the argument presented by HOa W. D. Lewis, president of the Texas Farmers’ Union, In opposing the Mil: "It Is gratifying to note that It la not the farmer's wife who Is clamoring fer the ballot She is too busy trying to make happier hornet molding the minds of future citizens and scaring with her husband the cares or life to Indulge in political gossip. The ballot wilf give her no relief from drudgery, give no assistance in clothing the children or bring to the home additional comforts, conveniences or opportunities in life. It is, as a rule, the city woman promoted to Idleness by prosperity, who Is leading the suffragette movement “From many standpoints, perhaps a woman has as much right to vote as a man. So has she as much right to plow as a man; she has as much right to wofrk In a factory as a man; she has as much right to shoulder a musket as a man, but we would rather she would not do so from choice and we regret that necessity oft times compels her to earn a living by engaging in gainful occupations. We do not consider misfortune a qualification for suffrage or a business accident a reason for granting franchise. We are opposed to woman at the ballot box the same as we are opposed to woman fn the field, In the factory or In the army and for the self-same reasons. We had rather see her plant flowers than sow wheat; gather bouquets than pick cotton and . rear children than raise political Issues, although she may have as much right to do one as the other.

Opposed to Unsexlng Humanity. "Sex qualification for suffrage may have its apparent Inconsistencies. No general rule adjusts Itself perfectly to all conditions. It lb, a favorite argument advanced by the proponents of woman’s suffrage that many cultivated and noble women an far mon capable of Intelligently exercising sovereignty than a worthless negro, bat the South never was anxious for negro suffrage, and while culture and refinement, and even morality, an desirable virtues, they an not tha only qualifications for franchise. "The primary, Inherent and Inseparable fitness for suffrage is supporting a family. The plow handle, the forge and the struggle for bread afford experience necessary to properly mark the ballot Government Is a great big business and civilization from the very beginning assigned woman the home and man the business affairs of Ilfs. "Then has been maoh freakish legislation enacted during the past decade that no doubt appeals to woman’s love for the ridiculous, but to underhike to annex the human ran by lav Is the height of legislative folly and a tragedy to mankind. "We are opposed to the equal rights of woman—we want her to ever remain our superior. We oonslder woman’s desire to seek man’s level the yellow peril of Twentieth Century civilization.

“Woman la the medium through which angel* whisper their messages to mankind; It la her hand that plants thoughts In the intellectual vineyard; it Is through her heart that hope, love and sympathy overflow and bless man* kind. Christ—the liberator of womankind—was satisfied to teach the lessons of life and He was a man. He chose to rule over human hearts and refused worldly power and men followed after Him, women washed His feet, little children climbed upon His knees and the Ruler of the universe said that in Him Hs was well pleased. Can woman find a higher calling?”-