The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-16
SHOWS SEX PROGRESS.

Mr.. Payne's effort to revise the tariff
by means Of the bill which bears his
name is meeting with some remark
able results. Naturally. it is to be exI
pected that any political measure af-
fecting so many different and powerful
interests, throughout so large a terri
tory as the United States and it's col
Ories, must evoke a great variety of
opposition. But the Payne bill seems
to have aroused the women of America,
for the first time, on the subject Of
tariff legislation.
Never before in the history of Amer
lea have women taken SO general and
concerted an attitude for or against
any national policy as they now as
sumo against the proposed increase Of
tariffs on clothing and tea. Mr. Payne
IL nothing else, will have achieved the
distinction of being the most talked
about man among Americans of the
opposite sex in the country today
In Chicago the league of Cook county
women's clubs is waging a national
battle against certain provisions of the
Payne tariff revision bill. The league
plans to get so many signatures against
the high tariffs on clothing and femi-'
nine necessities, from all over the Unit
ed States, that congressman will be
afraid to endorse them.
In Chicago one hundred thousand
names have already been signed to these
petitions. and blanks will be sent to
every large city in the nation for the
signatures of women in all classes of
society. These blanks will be dis
played in stores. depots and other pub
lie places, so that millions of womer
will see them. and it is hoped that az
least one million will sign.
Among the centers for this crusade
are MINNEAPOLIS. st. Paul Indianapolis
Cleveland. Kansas City, ST Louis DON
Yer and San Francisco. It is believed
that these cities alone will contribute
the million signed protests against ex-
ira tariff on gloves and stockings-fo,
1t is on these two articles of feminine
apparel that the fight is being central
lied
When all the slips have been signed
they will be bound in neat volume by
the Chicago headquarters committee O
the work, and forwarded to Washing
ton. This volume should be an impress
sive one and exercise a great influence
on Washington solons
OF course the printing of severa
million petitions, their transportatio,
and the details of organization an
promotion work imply a considerabl
expense. Most of this. no doubt, /
met by private contribution from mem
hers of the women's clubs in warrior,
cities concerned in the petition cru
SADIE 1t is probable, though, that man
large dry goods houses have made gen
erous donations to aid the cause.
This. however does not rob the wo
mans war Of its dignity nor make
less remarkable or unprecedente,
Nothing Of the kind has hitherto oo
CURED in America or any other couu
try, and it argues not only of the ur
popularity Of the tariff provisions in
volved. but of the wondrous strides VIC
men have made in executive ability.
Eight or ten years ago such q err
sade would have been an impossibilit
Women would not have known how
start 1t or how to promote it. after II
start was made. Since the vogue
the business and professional wo,na
the club woman and the bachelor gil
sex Inequalities have undergone ma,
Vicious change. Woman organizes Al