Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-03-09
POLITICS AND THE HOME

Last week the Spokane Review Of
fered prizes for the three best editorial
articles written by women. The first
prize was awarded to Nellie Gillian
Day of Walla Walla for the follow
ing, which was published by the Re
riew under the above heading:
"Never before in the history OF our
nation has greater diversity of politi-
Cal issues and opinions confronted
and perplexed the administration thar
can be noted to-day as one glanceG
over the situation. Expansion and
anti-expansion, imperialism and anti
imperialism, the establishment of a
judicious and proper form of govern
ment in or for our new possessions,
the relation of the tariff to the islands
recently secured, in the business rela-
tions with this country, are some Of
the perplexing problems which are
now to be found agitating the Ameri-
can people.
"The pessimist declares that the
fraud and corruption perpetrated by
the average demagogue point to the
downfall of the republic, even when
considering the minor matters OF
home politics. The brother is an ex-
tremist, yet the coolest heads of the
country agree that the subject is q
grave One-ihat the assertion is not
altogether erroneous. Ii this be true
in the small matters Of public policy
at home how much more Importance
attaches to these questions of inter-
national law and governmental policy
above mentioned.
During the last election mere
lad remarked, Father has gone to
Olympia to attend Senatorial auc-
tion.' Laughable, yet almost literally
true. Even the school boy jestingly
suggerted that Senators are elected by
dollars instead of votes, and gives
vent to his surgrise when he learns
that Montana judge had the manli-
ness to refuse bribe of 100000 for
throwing a case out of court. Thus
are the future citizens of America
educated by the politician OF to day,
for the ultimate settlement OF great
questions in the years to come. What
will be the result?
"The end justifies the MEANS says
the Kentuckian in his political bat
ties, and might is right the blue
grass Interpretation being found to
some extent in the Winchester. A
man armed with only three revolvers
and knife is considered a harmless
cement in the community. These
lessons in modern politics are being
taught every lad in the land.
Fresh in the minds Of many must
be the State OF affairs which existed
in Kansas in 1898 when the Legisla-
ture met. A party Of would-be re-
formers clashed with the members OF
one OF the old parties and b'oodshed
was narrowly averted. Party feeling
reached such height that civil war
seemed imminent. The militia had
to be called out to quell the disturb
ance. In more recent years we have
the Montana spectacle and the Ken
lucky riot. Brilliant specimens of
modern political methods.
Some theorists hold there is q
panacea for all these evils in the en-.
franchisement OF women, and they
are firm believers in the idea that
woman's vote is the only power that
will ever purify the ballot box. Wo-
mans vote could not be detrimental
To the ballot, but might not the vote
be detrimental to woman? If her
brothers, the stronger sex, are sus-
ceptible to the contaminating in
Auences of the political world, what
hope have we that woman will re-
main unspotted by the same powerf
As rule men do not like to associate
woman with things political, as. the
idea is incongrous and savors not OF
true womanliness. Acting upon the
convictions brought to him by ex-
pertence man would not burden wo.
man with the responsibilities of suf-
frage and the demoralizing influences
of political contests.
"That woman has as good a right
to the ballot as man, who can deny?
If not, who shall decide by right in
herent? But the highest type of
man admires womanliness more than
all else, and has erected an altar sacred
to woman-the home-where she is
protected in the true spirit of love.
Who shall dethrone herr"