WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE
IN UNITED STATES
Question Attracting Wide Attention and is Being Universally Discussed.
WHERE WOMEN CAN VOTE
Opinion of Eminent Men on
the Subject Proves
Interesting.
(By Laura M. Thornburgh.)
There is probably no question receiving more universal attention at the
present moment than the question of
woman suffrage and what that implies.
______ is like the Pinchot-Ballinge
affair or city elections may assume more
importance for a short space of time
but the suffrage question with arguments pro and con is one that is likely
to continue indefinitely or until it is
satisfactorily settled to those most concerned.
One can hardly pick up a newspaper
or a current magazine without finding
some article bearing on the question.
Leading and representative statesmen,
public officials, literati and professional men have been interviewed and
their opinions printed. It is an interesting fact that most of the opinions
publicly expressed are decidedly in favor of the movement. Those who have
given the matter thought seem to realize that equal suffrage not only will
come to those who want it, but is already here, and it is only a question ot
time when it will be universal in this
country.
The question has come to be, "Will
it be best for all concerned that women
be given the ballot?" for the question,
"Is it right that women have the power
of the ballot?" has been answered in
the affirmative. There are no sane arguments that intelligent women should be
discriminated against when the illiterate
negro has a right to say what shall be
done in municipal affairs. It also seems
absurd to think that a young boy just
twenty-one years of age can go out
and vote on matters of public welfare
when the school teacher who has taught
him all he knows about political economy
shall be denied a voice in the matter.
It is interesting to read the sentiments of public men from the states
where women's suffrage is now allowed.
The general feeling is decidedly favorable. Those who object are almost entirely the party bosses and professional
politicians whom the women have defeated.
Women Vote In Municipal Affairs.
The city government is now elected
by men and women together in every
city of England, Scotland, Ireland, Aus-
tralia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden
and Denmark. In this country women
have the rights of equal suffrage in
Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.
Opinions of Public Men.
In speaking on woman's suffrage,
United States Senator Borah, of Idaho,
savs: "I would be entirely unwilling to see woman's suffrage abolished." United States Senator Heyburn, of Idaho, says: The general tone
of political
affairs in the stale have
improved and
greater care in the selection
of candi-
dates has resulted. Between
sixty and
seventy per cent of the
women vote."
On the same subject present
Governor
Brady says: ''Woman's
suffrage is an
unqualified success not only
in Idaho
but in all of the western
states adopt-
ing the principle. I am
heartily in
favor of its wide expansion."
Former
Governor Steunenberg says
"In Idaho
women are today the same
loving wives,
kind mothers- and capable
home man-
agers they have always been, nor has
there been the least belittling of the
sex in the eyes of the men."
The same sentiments are voiced by
the men of Utah and Wyoming and Colorado. Former United States Senator
Sutherland, of Utah, says: "Woman's
suffrage has raided the whole tone of
politics." Governor Brooks, of Wyoming, says: "I consider woman's suffrage of great benefit to any commonwealth. There is no argument which
can be made against it." Judge Lindsey,
of Colorado, says that he owes his last
election largely to the influence of the
women and to their votes.
Many of these testimonials come un-
solicited. It has been said that the
men desiring the women's votes speak
favorably of woman's suffrage for political reasons, but in that case the endorsement need not be so unqualified
and universal.
