Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-10
Copyright. BY Joseph L. BowlcsJ

Purify the Ballot.
Copyright. By Joseph b. BowlesJ
I''opyright l"&. iv Joseph Il. H"wl"S
'Mrs, J"auir G"nli Lincoln. W,'!"W 81
the lat" eminent s'"s""n. l'r. n :: I'm
coin is we'll krn"n in litrralH circles III
M'S"n ,eiy H"'T INST ST. h%ak 'S' is
%"srS av %r"S"i LATER .%F ." iT ir WHIT N"
ington Season" was ore 81 th'' first wit
ten in the :l"w p9p"l:'r diary st\lr. ii Ter
n ''r"I An rnvAns M.iG.~ W,'r" r..r~T"a
with favor l'y thc r"hh' on her VERSES
which hHT" hc.n set I" music tn" lest
known IS 'Tcnd"r and True.
At the opening OF the twentieth cen
tury. realizing the wonderful strides
that progress and enlightenment have
made. perhaps there is none more
gratifying than the increased and far
reaching influence attained By women.
Who. when the nineteenth century
was yet in its infancy, would have
been bold enough TO predict 70 our
Srandmothers, whose stately heads
still wore turbans and whose erect
figures scOrncd even the support Of a
h-backcd and most uncomfortable
chair, that their descendants would
don automobile caps, lounge even in
a drawing room. become active pro
motors of clubs and other female or
CARNATIONS. even cast ballot at the
polls and be elected to public Offices?
No doubt the dear old DANES would
have shuddercd at such pronounced
advancement: but "cXtreneS toIrh.
and never more easily than in the Dc,
lghtful being known as tn" uN-t0 date
woman.
What a boon 20 many have been the
clubs, from tn" modest sOceteS OF the
working girls in oar great cities to
the genealogical clubS-thr Daughters
of the American Revolution. The Co
lonial Danes and III" Holland society,
These wonderfully successful n:S&ni-
cations have conclusivcly proved thar
women arc competent to direct public
work, and to go hand in hand with
men in tho honor roll Of progress.
But with this infinite number of
clubs, historical and genealogical.
there appears to be none combining
the political and social in a manner
which if properly inauguraicd EnCN
show that the twentieth century is
still measure in advance Of the nine
teenth and include among the. active
workers those whom III" world Al
large is somewhat prone To regard as
the droneS of the human beehive.
There is very large class OF
women in the United States who from
environment. traditions and certain
shrinking from the publicity attendant
upou female suffrage ar" d"bar-cd
iron. showing the interest they TAX"
in politics and from putting that inter
est and energy into practical ns".
Taken in the proper form ii would
seem a possible task TO develop that
laten; force and 10 make il Of ConSid
cradle service to our Republican gov
ernmcnt by forming womans league.
which might hc Call"d--unieSs some
bright woman suggest better title
tho League Of the Golden Rod.
Twenty Eve years since in England
a few members Of tho conservative
par,y. desiring 10 add to its strength
and influence, proposed such 4 plan
and out of compliment and in memory
of the late earl " B"aconsi"ld III"
present powerful and able Primr"S"
league was named for its favoTiic
flower. The first movers In the form
ing VI this political organization We
Lord aud Lady Randolph Churchill
and Sir Henry Wolfe. ambassador Z"
Madrid Possibly the quick wit " IN"
American woman was tho germ which
,nreaIed To- the enthusiasm of hcT
british sisters Tho danes " tn"
Primrose league. which began in a
small circle Of London drawing rooms
NOW number their thousands and ~"
found in "hsbifa,icnS English
SYNONYM for our american chapters
all over the tight rttlc island
As woman's Influence IL supposed to
,,rify and cnnohIc tho ballot. a great
,oxer for good government might y"
evolved from an organization Who's"
confer should bc in our capital city.
wherc. although We have u" suffrage.
its principal officers could administcr
Nth G~aTlrESncss and ability Its