New-York tribune. [volume], October 31, 1915, Page 5, Image 33

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V?T
V
l:'? iili CAVELL
<N
.1^
?L*?i?. M,
Chivalrous Men Would Stay
.^w's Hand While
Women Deny Their Own
Right to Privileges.
l?y Rutfi Danbar.
? ? ?? agr?a
wer of femi:
a,. ? M m. of mar
, equality. If Wi
-
? ?
and, la
!
? nihili
:emin
?emin:
?nal m;
a wc
er? are nme of wc
S a i
e direct st its
tx. An ur.of
. "
while an
? :ace thro?. .
. mourninj I <uds the fi|
? ?
' ?
?nient of justice, a fui
that th?
? ' " '
... . fferti
-?? ar.d women, psych'
not admit ? ' ?
?
: distinction
"men. psycholog
ugh to take a d?fi' U
?
-? t at i
'? ;- an interesting pc
?',ieor
- '
? rnmental stage.
ei re ii i than i met
? - - the case of a won
ol
Imee men v,
? . ?
?id special privileges
? d'f ol this kind. There are
.,1 data to ie!l us definitely whetl
I matter ot traini
? knowing that there are fl
?unosity ?
'- e have no way of knowing tl
fundamental. In fact, we have mc
t it is a matter of trainii
? ed in him a certj
? deference toward women, frc
. very hard for him to grow away
V. ? may not all get up in a subw,
I oui se.it-. to women, but we feel u
WC do not. We have a sir
? of a woman in distress, r
? the ethics of the case.
James E. Lough, acting dean of tl
Pedagogy rk Universit
there may be some elemei
? e attitude of men, the mi
re by reason.
? - Ited under the sa:r
( avell, theri
?he same outer
; . ... ...
that ?
? ulnei
locti ini an b
t not among edu
Fence or the Ger
? - ;;iuin at all. Th
second was in laying down this doctrine o
tn. The t. ?: ? .; Belgian
-, inition factories and ti
. be fourth was th
Cavell. Thus she was sho
? , ians escape oppression
: h ? under The Hagui
?? ? ? was a climax ot out
nges
? jitoiie than men if
? i T eutOns, I believe r
t .is an it-olated fact
' *:? :e death of Andre, deplorable
last ,. conditions of war, anc
I SS nal on in a senes c f outrages
?at many years and 1 have
Saver been <i ny >,reat difference
by convention, in the
M and women. What
f't . by the ciitieren:e
?in. e of cer
dards. not by inherent tendencies."
"'s. Leu Hollingaworth, psychologist in
"? c r ? use at Bellevue Hospital, up
any of the men who
kgainat the execution
? . be found amorij; those strong for
women but weak on
KJual ? .
There are of course, many bases for the
?Pinion ol men on the execution ol Edit!
id "I have not tried to analyse
did expect | ist men to
"Pher ? except toi the ?a. i
t- in making the laws re
J*nl f And I should expect
to denounce her SXOCU
rrely, on trie ground that she
?as a woman There is no question that the
' si privileges for
' *tr? ng for keeping her from bet
r give her privileges
J*"?s pend on his will. He can de
never they do not interfere
*lth ' '?? He holds them out to her
' ? reward foi rot interfering with his de
*"**? He would rather keep their relations
10 Tl
' * I? largely unconscious on the
? x *i men. They have not gone through
?V'"' ' ?he matter They get red
jjr* ,a,f '? s,,y one suggests a change, nn<\
..* " ? nk it out.
%.?f ' ' ( th? attitude ol men toward
"''? ?? entirely a matter or custom and
ini"t not of inheritance. An Indian worn
CaERTRUDE
VTHERTON.
Her death is the
?omantic. incident of
the war.
an carries a park. That is purely convention.
There is no inherent tendency in man that
makes this sight horrifying to man, yet It
would horrify him to see a white woman I
burdened."
Somewhat the same opinion is held by
Charles G. Stevenson, who in 1898 did servi! c
as a Red Cross nurse at the front in the Spai
ish-American War, ana who is now vice-pre.i
cient of the New York State Nurses' A"-o ?a
tion. Mr". Stevenson, however, vie vs this ten
dency of men from a professional angle, with
v. hich she has had ample opportunity to a?. -
quaint herself.
"It is true," she said," that men who ej
deny women simple rights would have es
cused Edith Cavell on the ground that she
was a woman. This is natural at all times, and
especially in the ca~e of a nurse. If men ate
more aroused in this Instance than women
they have cause to be. for they owe a great
EDITH CAVELL
Thr tragic figurr of
the w.ir
DR JA MKS F..
LOUGH.
I Irr death w,i<? .t
climax in thr arrir-s
of outrages
Mrs Gabriel, who is a native of Oregon, where
the death sentence has been abolished, "and I
don't believe In executing anybody. It is ab?
surd that women are not given a voice in mak
ing the laws which govern them, but, neverthe
less, women would be lawabiding. If Miss
Cavell liad been an ignorant woman, a tool, it
would have been different. But she knew what
she was doing. Belgium was under military
law, and she knew what chances sbe took. If
we didn't hold women to strict accountability
aion? with men, what kind of conditions should
we have? We have laws against burglary, but
suppose they did not apply to women? If we
had separate laws for men and women we
should soon have anarchy. Miss Cavell con?
fessed what she had done and asked for no
leniency. This is shocking, but the death of a
man is shocking. The young man who was
executed not so long ago, and who asked his
executors to shake bands with him. had his
DI AN GEORGE W. KIRCHWE?
"It is not a matter of logic bul c?f feel
JUDGE ELBER1 II. GARY.
I he t ntire world would have had ?i
better opinion of the German cause had
six- been aparees.
DR STEPHEN S. WISE.
It will be decades bel ore the BOame
4>t having si.un this noble woman will
h.i\ e been F ft,u f-iI
MISS LILLIAN WALD.
rhifl is just a part of the general
horror."
deal to nur->cs. Tiiey are more
upon them than women are, and -,
would doubtless f ruch some chord
m ' vibrate in a woman.
At .--.?? I .l'inot see i
fail to be incensed over the dean
Cavell. And I know that no i an with
a drop of red blood in his veins will let her
death go unavenged."
Gertrude Atherton, with the novelist's in?
stinct, does not fail to see the dramatic com
| ensation through the mist of emotion.
"This attitude of men," she said, "is the
whole point at issue in the suffrage question
Men like to pity and protect women. I doubt
if this tendency will ever be extracted from
them, there are so many women to foster it.
'As for Edith Cavell. she knew what she
was about. She knew war ; she knew the
IS. She kept her wits till the last, we
are told. She probably did not look so far
?now that her death would bave
wonderful recruiting value which, ?t has
but 1 bave no doubt she did know it
would rebound to her country's benefit and
to Germany's detriment. And what a detri
cnt it has been already to Germany. Entr,
1 ..nd has reached the highest point of civiliza
tion?that is why they gave Mrs. Herbert only
l months in prison, instead of executing her.
Germany, so forward of her scientific prowess,
?B fully 200 years behind in humanitarianism.
Of course, there are some exceptions, but Ger
mans as a nation are literal
"I can't set why we should pity Edith
Cavell. She was In tremendous luck, for her
self and her country. She might just have
been struck by shrapnel and never heard of
a<;ain. But it is a great honor to be shot.
"The execution of Edith Cavell has. ol
? e done Germany more harm than all her
other blunders. It is true that we have exc
. el women in this country. But they are
criminals, and people make an outcry only he
cause it is so unusual, just as they turn and
stare it a man walks down the street without
his hat.
"If I had been in Belgium. I have no doubt
! should have done everything in my power to
^ave Edith Cavell. But now that it is over, I
ihink she has the most enviable fate. He:
death is the tragic and romantic incident of
the war."
Mrs. Olive Stott Gabriel, president of the
Women Lawyers' Association, in spite of her
indignation at the circumstances which made
possible Miss Cavell's death, naturally reflects
the legal sentiment:
"I voted against capital punishment,'' said
life beiore bim. That was quite as sad and
impressive a death to me as Edith Cavell's He
had done the noblest thing he had been trained
to do. I don't believe in war, but if we are
going to have war and spies, then, logically,
spies should be honored, not executed. But I
believe in enforcing laws in any community
That's why ( am strong for suffrage, because
.ill the people's sentiment is back of laws and
they are then enforced, not allowed to become
dead letters, as they are in the State of New
York.
"Men sentiment ilize about women being
put to death, but that is ail theoretical. Practi?
cally they don't stay their hands because of a
woman. Roosevelt .often refers to the woman
whom he refused to pardon merely because
she was a woman. There is only one way in
which women escape punishment, and that is
through the unwritten law, but men get off on
Pda
.i. <t;
Are Women
By ALKCE DUER MILLER
9
Sont; Before Election.
Men oi our state, how long
Must women strudle and coax and plead
I'or the thing for which you would fi^ht and bli BO,
lor liberty, loved of the strong?
Men of our state, how long?
Men of otir state, how long.
I low long will you sit .it r.'.se and say:
Oh, yes, the women will win some day.
Hut waiting will do no wrong"?
Men ol our state, how long?
Men of our state, how long
Would you love the women who had no part
In the thought? that have always stirred your heart?
In liberty, loved by the strong?
.N'en of oui state, how long?
"Anti" Comments on the Parade.
Commenting on the srflrage parade, one of the leaden
of the opposition said: "There was much to make the on?
looker wonder if the substitution of pageantry for sound
logic held any guarantee that a doubled electorate would
mean an improved electorate.'
If we remember rightly, there were some who said of
" the Sound Money Parade of 18%: "We doubt if the substitu
tion of pageantry for BOttnd logic is any guarantee that the
defeat of free silver would men an improvement in out
financial situation. '
"I think." says the president of an "anti organization,
"that the public is opposed to women marching."
They showed their opposition by standing about four
lours and cheering the marchers as 'hey passed.
But the most eloquent comment of all is that the august
president of the Men's League Opposed to Woman Suffrage
refused to comment at all
"Antis" We Havt' Miovvn.
"My principal reason againit it," laid he,
"I. that women don't want it, at far ai I ?ee."
"O Father," his daughter exel dmed, "is that 'rut
You know that I want it, and Mother doei, too."
He smiled with omniscience peculiar to him:
"My darling," he said, "that is only a wh.m
"But it iin't a whim," ?he replied, "in Min Hayi,
Who writet all your letter!. You frequently praite
Her poiie and good tenie; well, the wants it, the sayi."
"Do vou think that her judgment or mine ii the ripest.'"
He asked. ",Muit I learn how to vote from my typitt?"
"Well, then," the went on, "all the leacheri at M hool
Are for it."
He laughed "I have found ai a rule
That all of the unmarried women I've known
W ..nt nothing so much ai a home of their own:
If all of your teacheri were married, you'd note
A itriking decrease in their wiih for the vote."
"Many teacheri are married," the itarted to say,
Rut he begged the would not contradict in that way.
"You're growing." he said, "both aggrenive ?nd vain
I think we won't mention this ?uhject again."
That night at the club they were speaking of It,
And ha said that he wasn't oppoied?not a bit
"It i? true I am voting BffflSafll It," ?aid her
"But the women I know do not want it, you ?ee.
Short Obituaries of "Anti" Arguments.
In the early 80's, ?luring the opening of the colleges and
? ; ..icssional schools to women, after a long illness, quietly
;>assed away, the intellectual inferiority argument against
woman suffrage.
Suddenly, in all belligerent eountr.es. following the na?
tional service rendered by women in munition factories, hos
! mis and the field of battle, the argument that women must
? vote because they are of no use in war
Very suddenly, on October 23, 1915, in New York City
during the ^reat parade, the argument that women do not
want the vote.
Where Women Don't Vote.
"The arlairs of the greatest corporation in the United
States, the Empire State." says Senator Root, "are conducted
upon princirles that would ruin a corner grocer."
Of course if this situation arose in a suffrage state, we
could easily explain it as the result of women's nernicious
influence: but as it occurs in New York, where only that sex
votes every member ot which is a financial expert, we are at
a loss.
The Favored Sex.
Women, we are often told, are not sufficiently grateful
for the privileges they receive on account of their sex.
We. therefore, beg the two women stenographers who
i c jus? won ?ynewriting contests over men and women com
? etitors to remember that if to-morrow they take employ?
ment under the government they will have the privilege of
receiving a ?-nHler salary than the men whom they have
surpassed.
Psychologists Discuss This
Attitude ?Some Say Men
Have More Sentimen?
tality Than Justice.
thai too?witness Harry Thaw Mrs S. ?
?a executed becauae he was ?mpi
Lincoln's death, yet she was only an BC4 I
before the fact. The conspirators met H
house, and she was not spared because she i
a woman, nor should she have been. Occa i
ally men ?re carried awiy by ser.rme- ? ad lai
women off; then they hold that rare
women for years afterward to show . ?
erous they are. The old-fashioned man i
indulges in maudlin sentimentality |
rial privileges for women is usually the first I
cheat her in business. I ,,m strong for w. at
but I am stronger or justice. If women | I
a vo:.e in lawma'.in.; they won't need any
Cial privileges). They will tike care ot thetn
?r:.r?. The crime against Edith Cavell ?**
not in eveeutinr; her, but in the fact thai r
had no voice in the laws that governed he: "
Miss Lillian Wald, head of the Henry Stir"
Set'iemer.t, also regards the matter from a
broad humanitarian view.
"On the whole." said she, "the killing of
Edith Cavell is just a part of the general horror
and may be classed with the invasion of Pel
|iuta and the sinking of the Lusitama.
We are shocked to our marrow by the !<
this splendid woman, this valuable nurse
is as highly esteemed here as in England, and
who cared tor Germans as well as her OV/S
people. Now. if she merely, as a faithful, com?
petent nurse, helped prisoners escape. ttsM ?1
a par? of the tenderness and compassion of
nursing, and there isn't a woman living who
would not have done the same. But it she v. i >
engaged by the government as a spy. that if a
different matter. She took her chinees and
she should not have escaped because she was
a woman. Which was the c.v-e I do not know.
I do know that whatever the reason for her
death, whether it was justified or not by the
laws ot war, it is one of the most convincing
proofs that war should be abolished."
Like many other suffragists, Mrs Harriot
Stanton Blatch reads into the Cavell case an?
other argument for equal rights.
"The furor of the men over the Cavell i ase
?s pure hysteria," she said. They hang, they
electrocute, they shoot women in this country
One group objects only when another group
does it. When it comes their turn, they .tie
quite ready to execute women, with whom they
are always willing to share their sufferings, but
never their powers.
"Women can't sidestep res, risibility be^.i
they are women," said Miss Henrietta Rodman.
"War is not woman's expression?that is the
only argument against tiie execution of Edith
Cavell."
"During this war Germany has committed
three appalling outrages, which, from every
point of view, are ulso three appalling blunders
?the invasion of Belgium, the destruction i !
the Lusitania. and the execution of Edith Cs
veil," said Miss Elizabeth Jordan, of" Harper
ot Brothers. "She has trieJ to justify each ot
these, and in every attempt she has shown to a
horrified world the vulnerable snot in bei
mighty armor?the quality which, great as she
is, must lead to her ultimate defeat.
"No nation which performs and defends sum
.1 '.ions can long survive; no such nation caw
triumph ovei the civilised peoples ot the earth
For Germany is undermining her own soc al
structure as well as the world's; the is tearing
away from beneath her ihe splendid foundation
of civilization and high ideals which her own
people built. That the many high-minded and
heroic Germans should surfer for the blindness
and blunders of the few is the real tragedy of
the Fatherland."
Other expressions are:
Judge Elbert li. Gary:
"My opinion is that Miss Cavell made herself
amenable to military law and gave the Ger
mans the right to put her to death, but 1 siso
think that, as she was a woman and believed
herself to be working in a good cause, it would
have been better if hei punishment had been
less.
Alice Hill Chiirenden, of the Anti-Suffrage
Association:
"Certainly the execution of Edith Cavell was
by no manner of means justified. Women
irom the point of view of sentiment are e.i
titled to certain privileges of protection."
Miss Alberta Hill, of the Woman's Politi. al
Union:
"From the point of view of sentiment t
execution o? Kdith Cavell was not juv,
but it has at least refuted the argument ot t.
antis' that in time of war women cannot d.e
lor their country"
Dr. Stephen S Wi^e:
"The execution of Edith Cavell is perhaps
technically justifiable. I am presuming that
tiie German law dealt thoroughly by Miss
Cavell. If so, one must be sorriei lor the
spirit that informs and executes German law
than for Miss Cavell."
Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge, president of the
Anti-Suhrage Association:
"Capital punishment should only be meted
out to women if it can be proved that they aie
a danger to the community and cold-blooded
criminals. Otherwise, from the viewpoint of
sentiment?not sentimentality, be it undei
stood?Edith Cavell should not have been put
to death.
George W. Kirchwey, formerly Dean 01 Law
at Columbia University:
"According to strict military law, \dith
Cavell is guilty, and the fact that she is a
woman should not be taken into considera?
tion; but from the viewpoint of humanity and
public opinion it seems to me that her cxecu
tion was absolutely unju-.titied. It has been
the practice of all nations to apnly the rule?
of war less vigorously to women than to men.
even though the oflence committed be tech
nically the same, and I think this poli.y is
sound?