The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-09
keep RESPONSIBLE"
MRS. j. ELLEN FOSTERS TIMELY
APPEAL TO WOMEN.
Why Their Influence Should He Exer
ted In Behalf of Republican euccess
at tho Polls-A Party that Leaas All
Movement. Which Benefit Mankind.

at tho Folls-A Party that 1<eads All
Movement. Witch Benefit Mankind.
In Tho Nirginian," that fine story Of
Western life. the author makes his hero
say to a crowd OF comrades who urge
him to take a drink, No. boys. must
keep responsible"
This tall. big-boned and big-hearted
man of the woods and of the plains had
driven many miles from the ranch to the
railway station. to meet IL visiting city
gentleman. 1t was up to him" to bring
mat visitor safely to the ranch; to per
form that duty he must keep RESPONSE
BILE"
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
on the same conditions as do men. \.
Democrat, Miss French. had acceptably
held the office of State Superintendent
of Public Instruction. and was renomi-
mated. The Republican panty had also
nominated a lady, Miss Mae Scott. for
the position. The campaign for the State
ticket, aud for Coneressmnu-at-large,
was vigorous, and the Republican party
Won. The shib,oleth passed around
among Republican women was, Keep
responsible"
Miss Scott has been renominated by
reclamation. III tlic recent State convcn-
tion at Moscow. No criticism had been
made upon her conduct of the bliice-slle
had kept responsible"
We are now passing this word on TO
Republican women, the country over.
w 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 unswerving 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, a woman who
does not care" is Il pitiful and revolving
object. 1t is common to say that a
woman who goes wrong fails to lower
depths than a man can. am not sure
that this is absolutely true. 1t surely
seems SO.
During the last quarter of a century
woman's sphere of duty ana of respou-
sibllity has greatly widencd. In fulfilling
her primal responsibilities 10 the home.
she has been forced beyond the old-time
limitations in education. in industry. in
social economies, and in politics. The
demands of necessity and the limits uf
opportunity are always the measure Of
responsibility. Consciously or unron-
sciously the average woman has alwa&s
accepted this standard OF obligation. The
American woman has conspicuonsly dnao
so. 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 the
spirit of progress than is any other man
III the world. He, more than She. is re-
sp"nsible for the enlargement of her
sphere of influence. He is sometimes a
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, aud coerced by
a sense Of responsibility to act with the
forces of progress.
l cannot in this paper set forth the
claims of the Republican party. or show
the utter inability of the Democratic
party to legislate for the people, and its
mcompetency TO administer the so ern-
ment. ] here only ask intelligent wo-
men to read the history of the country,
to study its present life as illustrating
the wisdom of the principles and the
constructive policies of the Republican
party, and To contrast them with the ul-
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
~, Who, .J,~ ,,N,>t a., r,n+ ,r l.~.
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 in every department of human pro-
gress. See it's greatness at home. and
its beneficient influence in world rcla-
tions. Remember that of every forward
movement the Republican party has been
the instigator and the leader. But while
you rejoice in victory and In progress.
open your ears and your hearts to the
undcrtone of discord from mis-applied
and j%arring forces i'll industrial and civic
life. There are wrongs to be righted,
wounds to be healed, and ulcers to be
burned out. There are whole races OF
men to be lifted from the night Of bar
barism into the morning of semi-civiliza-
ton, and finally into the monday Of
orderly self-government and political lib
erty.
The great, the beloved Mckinley first
voiced the National consciousness of
world responsibility. lie was Gods in
strument in the political eyangelization
Of those island empires where our tag
now floats. You revercnced him, you
mourncd for him us 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 q noble patriot