Page:May Walden - Woman and Socialism (1909).pdf/21

 Rh a system that for its perpetuation through profits demands night work for women? Is night work or any other kind of drudgery so dear to us that we clamor for the factory owners to employ us at the expense of our health and that of our unborn children? If we could vote, would we put into office men or women who refuse child labor legislation? Is the sight of our little ones toiling in the shops, mines and on the streets so comforting and so reassuring that we long to have them there? If we could vote, would. we consent to elect a mayor or aldermen who connive with wealthy corporations to deprive us of taxes that should go to support schools for our children? No, a thousand times, no! Then join the Socialist party, which is the only party in favor of giving women the ballot that she may vote against those things.

Economically, we are slaves because we are dependent upon some one else for our support; for the roof over our heads, the clothes we wear, and the food we eat. From our cradles to our graves, we are held in subjection by the person who holds the pocketbook and buys our daily necessities. When we are in our childhood our wants are supplied as fully as possible by the love of father and mother. But in our youth, when our wants increase and we are restless under restraint, we are obliged to go from home to find a master: one who by sweating the life out of us can add to the profits he is so eagerly grasping.

Would any girl, unless she was forced to do it through necessity, slave from morning