The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-26
WOMEN AND POLITICS.

American women are not in politics. that
exceptions. Out in Kansas, for instance,
there is always at least one woman who
makes party speeches, usually of the Pop
ulist variety, it must be said, and who is
spoken of with more or less respect as a
leader" Further west, where women have
the ballot. one is every now and then q
candidate for Office and is elected. Also.
there are women who want to vote and
who agitate the subject in season and out.
All these together, however, make but a
limited number. For the most part
American women. as before stated, take
no active part in political proceedings.
They have an interest in the campaigns:
oh, yes. AT the present moment there is
none of the apathy in feminine circles of
which party leaders complain as existing
among the voters. The women take sides"
ardently; they don't know, the dear souls,
exactly what the issues are. Imperialism"
is a vague term, they speak hesitatingly
about trusts, while. as for sound money"
- NOAAS NAAo 10 Jill tANJ w " 5000
cut in large numbers to political meetings,
but they will go any time TO look at a
torchlight parade and will urge their men
folks to participate. They get deeply ex-
cited as election draws near. and grow
highly indignant at any one who ventures
TO predict the success Of the other can
didate. They are positive, perfectly GER
TAIN" of the election of their own favor
lite. though seldom having enough conf
| dence in their convictions to back them
flags out and wear badges and sit up late
en- election night to hear the returns, and
will cherish the delusion that they are
nothing less than accomplished politicians
and patriots, while, as a matter of fact
| they are only playing around the edges.
English women, now, are Sin politics
much deeper than our women. They dc
not vote, to be sure, but they do electioneer
and such work is expected of them. es-
pecially when they lave near relatives
who are standing for Parliament OF
other office. The work they do is of more
than one sort; it may be clerical, for there
is much correspondence to look after, lit.
erature to send out, etc., and there is nc
organization or machine" there, as here
to look after such things. The woman may
voters to what she considers their duty
or she may assume the older or more
feminine role of direct personal persuasion
Whatever she undertakes she does it witt
all her might, and her influence is a dis
tinct element in the election. AS a part Of
her campaign she has a political cos
tune" and this feature will attract the at
tention Of her American sisters. She may
make the costume in such style as sh'
pleases, but 1t must be of the colors Of th'
candidate or party for which she is work
ing. Sometimes these %colors, being chosen
for other than aesthetic reasons, are yer,
crude. and it is difficult to %contrive any
thing with them that will not make
are important and are becoming, it is sal,
by a correspondent, more and more indis
%pensable. When it once dawns on Ameri
can women that clothes and politics hav
IN intimate connection, their interest II
the subject may be increased and the,
may be inclined to more active partici
patton. 1t might, in fact, be the part o
wisdom for Mrs. Gait and her cohorts {
dwell upon the influence of clothes in poll
tics and the duty of women to elevat
party life by drapery effects. Once wome
are convinced of their duty they will do IL