The San Francisco call., 1909-06-11
WOMEN WARN ALL
THE POLITICIANS
Find Powerful Weapon at Hand
in the New Direct Pri=
mary Law

RICHMOND, June 10.-The women OF
Contra Costa county, led by active
workers in the w. c. It. U. movement,
are planning to overthrow the old po-
litical rings of the county and to be-
come active factors in the political life
of the county themselves by taking
advantage of the liberal provisions Of
the new direct primary law.
Mrs. Marie E. Kerr, who read
paper entitled "Woman's Right Denied
the Ballot at the second days ses-
sion or the annual convention OF the
Contra Costa County Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union today, out
lined the plan for a woman's cam
palgn for the political publication OF
the county. She said in part:
SCORES FRACTIONAL POLITICIANS
Practical pollticians-that class of criminals
in the community for whom no punishment has
as yet been provided-fear woman's power in
polltics and for that reason have refused and
SUN reIuse to grant TO woman her simple right,
the rignt 10 vote at any and all elections on any
and all matters on which naturalized foreigners,
freed slaves and native born men may vote:
Inc politicians fear to introduce into politics
new and possibly radical element which
would make for purity and right.
1heir opposition is prompted and promoted by
selnsh and self-seeking conservatism and by
tne organized activities of certain business in
terests which, ii is supposed, would be adversely
anected by woman suffrage-that is by the
brewing and distilling and allied interests. And
that Is another reason why / am a sufragisr.
for | am firmly of the opinion that the day on
which woman is given her full right-that right
10 vote ON any and all questions equally with
men-there Will be sounded the death knell of
that curse OF God and humanity-the rum traffic.
Can we do anything to alleviate the situation
| think we can with the help of the primary
election law and the aid of the better class of
men voters. who are with but who lie irreso-
lutely under the blighting spell of general
apathy.
WARNING TO ALL PARTIES
Let us here and now serve notice upon all par
Ties and all political manipulators that none but
good, worthy and clean men of sobriety and
sterling character must in future be nominated
as candidates for any office TO be filed at the
coming election. or at any election TO be held
thereafter and if they fail to heed this warning
let US one aud all work with will TO encom-
pass the defeat of any unworthy candidate for
rum consumer.
Let us here and now formulate plans and de
effect Let organize active band of
workers in every school district every town pre-
home.
Let us see to it that the right kind of men
are nominated-we do so under the primary
election law-and see TO 1t that such men when
nominated get the votes, regardless to which or
what political party or organization they may
belong.
Mrs. Kerr's speech was received with
great enthusiasm, and the convention
resolved to take immediate steps to
inaugurate the campaign which she
proposed.
Other speakers at the convention to-
day were Mrs. NJ. B. Younglove, presi-
dent of the county union. and Mrs. S.
NJ. Woodman, who read a paper on
Moral UpheavaI." The convention
will continue all day, tomorrow, ad-
journing in the evening.