Chicago.
Dear Miss Addams:
The "Shall Women Vote" discussion in the Outlook is of much interest to me.
I believe the suffrage ought to be given to all respectable American women, one by one, who want it. I believe it would be an injustice for one million men to make a half a million women uncomfortable or to prevent another half million or even ten thousand women from becoming comfortable. It would be a like injustice for 500,001 women to interfere with the comfort of 499,999 other women.
The "comfortable married woman" does not ask for the ballot for herself. She already has it together with her husband. He casts the ballot for her as well as for himself. The woman who can not be a "comfortable [page 2] married woman" and wants to be a comfortable "[enfranchised]" woman ought not to be denied that [privilege]. I believe that all women should be comfortable in the one way or in the other. Then will the men be more comfortable and better men too. To be sure ten thousand new [voters] added to the present million would not transform the community at once, but the influence would be for good. One hundred and one mixed voters would be a little better than one hundred male voters.
I believe a double vote ought to be given to every married man whose wife wants him to have hers. I believe the man who can then go to the polls with a double vote will be worth to the community more than double the man who can have but one vote. I believe he will feel his worth and the community will feel it too. [page 3]
I am an independent progressive. I believe in the right of the people to rule. I believe in the right of the rank and file to choose their own candidate.
I believe in the progressive party, but that party as now made up is too narrow, not sufficiently inclusive for present practical purposes.
I believe that the independent voter can and ought to elect Woodrow Wilson President and I believe he can cast his vote for Wilson as a progressive vote and not as an endorsement of the democratic party, but I do not yet see clearly the best way to do it.
I believe in Theodore Roosevelt. I believe he wants, more than all else political, the triumph of progressivism and I believe we can give it to him quicker than he can get it himself. I believe that after a few weeks of study and discussion a nation-wide independent town meeting can be held and plans concerted for action in November.
Respectfully and sincerely,
Elmer E. Hubbard
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