The river press., 1904-09-28
KEEP RESPONSIBLE"
MR9.L ELLEN FOSTERS TIMELY
APPEAL TO WOMEN.
why Their Iuhuencs Shou1d Re Excr-
ted In Behalf Of Republican Success
At the Polls-A Party that Leads All
Movements Which Benefit Mankind.

Say 10 Il cfOWd or comrades who urge
him to take a drink, mo, boys. must
keep responsible"
This tall, big-boned and big-heartea
man Of the woods and Of the plains had
driven many miles from the ranch to the
railway station, to meet visiting city
gentleman. 1t was ''up to him. to bring
that visitor safely to the ranch; to per-
form that duty he must keep response
blc."
l read this story two years ago.
while campaigning in the State Of
Idaho. In that State, aud also in
the States Of Wyoming, Colorado and
Utah, women vote aud may hold Office
OIL the same conditions as do men. A
Democrat, Miss French, had acceptably
held the office of State Superintendent
OF Public Instruction, and was renomi-
mated. The Republican party had also
nominated lady, Miss Mae Scott, for
the position. The campaign for the State
ticket and for Congressman al large,
was vigorous. and the Republican party
won. The shibboleth passed around
among Republican women was, Keep
responsible m.. &.m
Miss Scott has been renomnated by
acclamation, at tile recent State conven-
tion at Moscow. No criticism had been
made upon her conduct OF the ottice-she
had kept Responsible
We are now passing this word on to
Republican women, the country over
Whether or not you can vote, you can
keep responsible:'
Among the qualities OF the ideal wo.
man none is so universally acknowledged
as is that one OF unswerying fidelity to
duty. In literature, and in the common
experiences Of ordinary, everyday life,
woman's reliability as sister, sweetheart,
wife or mother is the keystone Of every
arch, the keystone Of all music. An
irresponsible woman, woman who
does not care" is pitiful and revolving
object. 1t is common to say that
woman who goes wrong falls to lower
depths than man can. l am not sure
that this is absolutely true. It surely
seems so.
During the last quarter Of a century
woman's sphere Of duty and Of respon-
sibility has greatly widened In fulfilling
her primal responsibilities to the home,
she has been forced beyond the old-time
limitations in education, in industry, in
social economies, and in politics. Vhe
demands Of necessity and the limits Of
opportunity are always the measure Of
responsibility. Consciously or uncon-
sciously the average woman has always
accepted this standard Of obligation. The
American woman has conspicuously done
50. The American man, her comrade in
the home and in the worlds work, is
larger Drained, more free-hearted and
open-handed, more responsive to ths
spirit Of progress than is any other man
in the world. He, more than she, is re-
sponsible for the enlargement Of her
| sphere Of influence. He is sometimes
little slow in recognizing the results OF
| his own initiative
This is how it is and why American
women now find themselves driven BY
| the necessities Of the national life to the
open door Of opportunity. and coerced by
sense Of responsibility to act with the
| forces of progress.
I cannot in this paper set forth tho
| claims Of the Republican party, OF show
| the utter inability Of the Democratic
party to legislate for the people, and its
! incompeteney to administer the govern
ment. l here only ask intelligent wo-
men to read the history Of the country,
! to study it's present life as illustrat ting
! the wisdom Of the principles and the
constructive policies of the Republican
|
WISDOM and the dangerous go-as-you-
please, irresponsible suggestions of the
Democratic party. l do not fear the
final judgment Of the average American
woman, when she accepts the fact of her
wider sphere in politics and informs her
self. l know that she will Keep Re-
sponsible."
| | urge all women to think, and then
| to act. Study the national situation;
note the strides which the country has
made i'll every department Of human pro-
gress. See its greatness at home, aud
its bcneticient influence in world rela-
tions. Remember that Of every forward
movement the Republican party has been
| the instiga tor and the leader. But while
| you rejoice in victory and in progress.
| open your ears and your hearts to the
undertone Of discord from mis-applied
and jarring forces in industrial and civic
! life. There are wrongs to be rlghted,
| wounds to be healed, and ulcers to bo
burned out. There are whole races Of
men to be lifted from the night of bar
barism into the morning Of semi-ciyiliza
! ton, and finally into the monday Of
orderly self-government aud political lib
erty.
The great, the beloved Mckinley first
voiced the National consciousness Of
world responsibility. He was Gods In
strument in the political evangelization
of those island empires where our flag
now floats. You revercnced him, you
mourned for him as you never mourned
before. Your tears were your hearts
tribute to his character. and were elo-
quent with love Of country, and indigna-
ton at her enemies. You can pay a
noble tribute, and voice noble patriot
ism, by helping to sustain the principles
he believed in and the enterprises he
inaugurated. The wisdom of our great
statesmen is developing his and their
conceptions Of National and international
righteousness. The service and the blood
of our sins have coasecrated these great
undertakings. The work must 60 on,
and you must help.
During this last year. under that
brave knight Of progress, Theodore
Roosevelt. the greatest physical enter