Henry Watterson (1840-1921) (photo above), a leading journalist of his era, elevated the Louisville Courier-Journal to perhaps the most prominent newspaper in the South, along with considerable national influence. But "Marse Henry," as he was known, was decidedly against women's suffrage.
In an editorial ("Shall Thinking Women Think?" [Sept.15, 1917]), Watterson informed his readers that "Good women have a higher function." He meant in the home. "Bad women take to politics." And it would make them worse.
Watterson continues: "But the most serious objection [to women's suffrage] is that the movement would not stop with the attainment of the ballot." No, sir, Marse Henry, it would march on.
"Behind Suffrage stalks Feminism," he declares. "Behind Feminism looms Free Love." One bad thing leads to another.
He does not stop. "Behind Free Love lurk[s] Infidelity and Sex War." Yikes! That's bad.
And his kicker: "The ballot," he says, "is but an entering wedge to the repudiation of Christianity." So, even Christianity would be destroyed. Apostle Paul would be apoplectic. The Courier-Journal, Watterson tells us is "a little old fashioned," but it would stay with the Bible --"the family Bible" --and "stick to Moses and the Prophets."
For some reasons I am trying to discover (possibly due to the strong leadership of Laura Clay and Madeline McDowell Breckinridge), the Kentucky General Assembly ignored Watterson and ratified the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, discontinuing denial of enfranchisement to anyone on account of sex. The vote was not even close in the two Kentucky chambers. And, Kentucky was one of only four Southern states to ratify this amendment.
But Marse Henry would think it has been all downhill toward free love ever since.
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