The Washington times., 1904-08-07
The Work of Women, Thoroughly Organ
lied Under the Woman's National Re-
publican Association, Will Be
Potent Factor

row great a force is woman in the
r. politics of America? Is the in
Il Il fuence she yields passive or ac-
tive? Does 1t depend upon spectacular
agitation to keep it alive or is it really
vital and weighty when voting time
comes?
If her power is active, how viii she
use It in the coming campaign? There
are four States where women vote in
Presidential campaigns. and many more
in which their influence is counted. Have
they made plans to make good use OF
this influence for Roosevelt or for Par
ker?
A Solid Organization.
These questions can best be answered
by the records and plans Of the WO-
mans National Republican Association,
the only really stable political organiza-
ton of women in America, which is ma
tiOnal in character. and which is now
getting ready 20 night for Republican
Ism.
Unnke the famous Primrose League,
the great Conservative political organi-
cation OF England. which has on it's
membership rolls men as well as wo-
men. although II was formed 20 give
the women a chance 10 do political work
the American organization IS composed
of women only.
Another distinctive feature is that the
Woman's National Republican Associa-
ton has among its members women who
actually cast the ballot, "A privilege our
sisters across the Atlantic have not, as
yet. attained
Women Have a Power.
II is true that there are but four
States in the country where this privi-
lege Is accorded members Of the weak
er sex-physically weaker, one is forced
10 say. when ne bears IN mind the Work
that has been done by certain members
OF this association-but in those States
the women have a power which must be
reekoned with in every campaign.
IN colorado, in Idaho. In CUun, and in
Wyoming the women will not only IN
huence their husbands. their brothers.
their sons. and their sweethearts. as
they will In States where they have no
vote, but Will 90 direct to the polls
themselves and cast their ballot for
Roosevelt or Parker and the opposing
candidates on the State, county and
municipal tickets.
But what Of these women What are
their characteristics? What moves them
70 take part In the political activity OF
their land?
Is II an oYerWeening vanity which
takes the form OF an irrepresslbIe itch
for notoriety2
Are they so overcome by anxiety 10
appear in the limelght OF publicity that
they unsex themselves 10 satisfy their
craving
Woman Answers Questions.
Such questions might have been asked
ten or fifteen years ago with more than
a shadow of excuse for the asking. but
today they would find no justification in
the facts Miss Helen Varick Boswell
OF New York, organization secretary Of
the Womans National Republican AS
ISOLATION. the woman who built up tho
New York branch Of the association &c
which she belongs. answered all these
questions In one simple sentence wher
they were put to her by the writer:
Our whole work Is educat iOnal," SAID
Miss Boswell. and that Is the situation
IN a nutshell.
The sole object OF the Woman's Ma
tional Republican Association Is thC
education and development o. the wo
men Of America that through them m,
men may be reached in those States
where there is no suffrage for women
In the States where women do vote
their ballots are cast as an example t,
the men 10 show them that the women