TREACHEROUS TEXTS

ARE WOMEN PEOPLE?

A Consistent Anti to Her Son

("Look at the hazards, the risks, the physical dangers that ladies would be exposed to at the polls.”—­Anti-suffrage speech.)

    You’re twenty-one to-day, Willie,
      And a danger lurks at the door,
    I’ve known about it always,
      But I never spoke before;
    When you were only a baby
      It seemed so very remote,
    But you’re twenty-one to-day, Willie,
      And old enough to vote.

    You must not go to the polls, Willie,
      Never go to the polls,
    They’re dark and dreadful places
      Where many lose their souls;
    They smirch, degrade and coarsen,
      Terrible things they do
    To quiet, elderly women—­
      What would they do to you!

    If you’ve a boyish fancy
      For any measure or man,
    Tell me, and I’ll tell Father,
      He’ll vote for it, if he can. 
    He casts my vote, and Louisa’s,
      And Sarah, and dear Aunt Clo;
    Wouldn’t you let him vote for you? 
      Father, who loves you so?

    I’ve guarded you always, Willie,
      Body and soul from harm;
    I’ll guard your faith and honor,
      Your innocence and charm
    From the polls and their evil spirits,
      Politics, rum and pelf;
    Do you think I’d send my only son
      Where I would not go myself?

Our Idea of Nothing at All

("I am opposed to woman suffrage, but I am not opposed to woman.”—­Anti-suffrage speech of Mr. Webb of North Carolina.)

    O women, have you heard the news
      Of charity and grace? 
    Look, look, how joy and gratitude
      Are beaming in my face! 
    For Mr. Webb is not opposed
      To woman in her place!

    O Mr. Webb, how kind you are
      To let us live at all,
    To let us light the kitchen range
      And tidy up the hall;
    To tolerate the female sex
      In spite of Adam’s fall.

    O girls, suppose that Mr. Webb
      Should alter his decree! 
    Suppose he were opposed to us—­
      Opposed to you and me. 
    What would be left for us to do—­
      Except to cease to be?

Lines to Mr. Bowdle of Ohio

("The women of this smart capital are beautiful.  Their beauty is disturbing to business; their feet are beautiful, their ankles are beautiful, but here I must pause.”—­Mr. Bowdle’s anti-suffrage speech in Congress, January 12, 1915.)

    You, who despise the so-called fairer sex,
      Be brave.  There really isn’t any reason
    You should not, if you wish, oppose and vex
      And scold us in, and even out of season;
    But don’t regard it as your bounden duty
    To open with a tribute to our beauty.