Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-01-31

The most ungenerous must confess
that behind all great reform move
ments in this country women have
been the inspiration and most potent
force. In religion, temperance, social
and municipal reforms women have
been the primary and untiring work
ers; to them much is due for the high
moral and religious standard of our
progression and Christian civilization.
In the education of the masses women
have been most conspicuous; a ma
jority Of the teachers in the public
schools are and always have been wo-
men. This daily contact with the
youth of the country has given them
the largest opportunities for the
guidance of their pupils into channels
of the highest moral rectitude and
patriotism. Next to the mothers the
public school teachers are the most
potent influences in the land.
If they go farther and accomplish
the readjustment of the scale of labor
and compensation so that men and
women would receive like remuner.
achievement that would bring a prop
er reward for her labor 1t would be
found that in the same line of work
in many instances women would re-
ceive more and men less than they
do now-with the fixed standard that
men are always paid more than wo-
men for equal work. This unequal
pay has led governments, state and
national, and private business enter
prises into the employment of many
women, who as rule accomplish
more and demand less than men.
They are prompt and absolutely relia-
BILE in the discharge of duties assigned
them, without questioning the impor-
tance or necessity of them. In conse-
quence men are constantly threaten
ing rebellion against the employment
of women on the ground that women
can do nothing for the perpetuation of
individual or party supremacy, be-
cause they cannot vote or participate
in political log-rolling.
/ do not believe that the organiza-
tion of women's political clubs ever
materially aided any rarty. They are
not by nature fitted for the work ex-
pected of political clubs. No self-re-
specting woman could or would en-
gage in canvassing city wards in the
interests of any party candidate, local
or otherwise. Their power lies in a
different direction.
Women, like men, are always am.
hitto,tc 10 hn off of
organization to which they belong and
are too jealous of each other to fol-
low the lead of any one woman. They
are not logical and are rarely well in
formed on the questions which enter
into all political campaigns. They
cannot discuss anything without al
lowing personal preferences and pre-
judices to enter the discussion. In the
| rivalry for election to the Offices of
societies of women everyone has wit
messed with much regret unseemly
scrambles and ignoble schemes that
would disgrace even a political dema-
gogue. Frequently these contests, as
| in mems societies, have resulted in
| the elevation of the least eligible, be-
cause women of true ability will not
| lend themselves to intrigue and dis
| honorable means for advancement.
1t should be the ambition of every
woman to be well informed an all sub
| jects, especially those bearing upon
domestic and political economy. She
Should be able to give legitimate rea
sons for her opinions and to defend
them with dignity and intelligence.
Pretensions, unsupported by actual
knowledge, will affect little in the
matter of conversion to ones views or
inducing a following. Brainy women
are apt to be too assertive to accom-
plish their desires or create an en-
thusiasm for any cause they espouse
Women are too honest and too frank
to cope with men in the science and
manipulation of politics.
Be willing to work and then to play