'Some one asking, at this time of day, why women want the vote? Why, for exactly the same reason that you men do. Because, not having any voice in public affairs, our interests are neglected; and since woman's interests are man's, all humanity suffers. We want the vote, because taxation without representation is tyranny; because the laws as they stand bear hardly on women; and because those unfair, man-made laws will never be altered till women have a share in electing the men who control legislation.' 'Yer ought ter leave politics to us----' 'We can't leave politics to the men, because politics have come into the home, and if the higher interests of the home are to be served, women must come into politics.' 'That's a bad argument!' 'Wot I always say is----' 'Can't change nature. Nature says----' 'Let 'er st'y at 'ome and mind 'er business!' The interjections seemed to come all at once. The woman bent over the crowd. Nothing misty in her eyes now--rather a keener light than before. 'Don't you see,' she appealed to them as equals--'don't you see that in your improvement of the world you men have taken women's business out of her home? In the old days there was work and responsibility enough for woman without going outside her own gate. The women were the bakers and brewers, the soap and candle-makers, the loom-workers of the world. You men,' she said, delicately flattering them, '_you_ have changed all that. You have built great factories and warehouses and mills. But how do you keep them going? By calling women to come in their thousands and help you. But women love their homes. You couldn't have got these women out of their homes without the goad of poverty. You men can't always earn enough to keep the poor little home going, so the women work in the shops, they swarm at the mill gates, and the factories are full.' 'True! True, every blessed word!' said the old newsvendor. 'Hush!' she said. 'Don't interrupt. In taking women's business out of the home you haven't freed her from the need to see after the business. The need is greater than ever it was. Why, eighty-two per cent of the women of this country are wage-earning women! Yet, you go on foolishly echoing: Woman's place is at home.' 'True! True!' said the aged champion, unabashed.