The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-29
Woman Suffrage.

there can be no difference OF opinion
as to the fact that the question is up
for discussion and finally for deter
mination The women claim that they
don't get a fair show at the hands of
lawmakers Or the newspapers. | be-
lieve The Gate City should not be
included in the list. Therefore |
hand you for publication the follow
ing editorial from the Vogue an
ultra 400 fashion magazine, that pam
ders to the Vanderbilts, the Goulds,
the Astors, ct al, and gives special
information to the swell young men
as to the style of collar and color OF
necktie they should wear. and request
quest you to publish it on your editor
ial page. l especially commend to
the attention of your readers the prop
osition that leisure class Is men
ace to the security and welfare OF the
commonwealth.
w. j. ROBERTS.
The Interest Of the Smart Set" Wom-
an In Good Government.
However inclusive 1t may seem to
the young girl, the social world OF
society does not in reality constitute
all of life, and therefore those re-
sponsible for her training during the
earliest days of her career should see
to it that her vision is not circum-
scribed to the limits of society inter
ests and experiences. The broaden
ing influences of world contact, which
are SO important in the training Of
her brothers, do not come
the way Of the debutante-
indeed for all the practical
knowledge she gets of political or
economic affairs, she might as we'll be
the inmate of an Oriental harem, and
since in this country the ideal woman
is not she of the cloister type, when
the sex ignores the broader aspects OF
life that lie beyond the drawing room
and it's qualifications 1t does not fulfill
its highest attainable destiny. In fact
the leisure class woman. whose posi-
tion gives her immense influence and
who, above all others, is SO favored
by circumstances that she can easily
take part in public movements of one
kind and another, as a rule holds her
self so aloof that the women munich
pal associations almost despair OF
ever being able to interest her III
municipal affairs. Approach the usua
run of women of llis class in behalf
of crippled children Or blind babies
and they show interest at once, be
cause the obvious need grips theil
hearts. but talk to them of civi,
righteousness, or municipal house
keeping, and they yawn and decline
to contribute either money or service
to the cause. And yet, did they Blu
realize it. the unfortunates they as
sist not only could be aided NOR
helpfully, but could frequently b
placed beyond the need of further aid
if the conditions of municipal admin
istration were improved.
Moreover, In addition to thu az
vantages reaped by their beneficiaries
their own economic interests would b
conserved IL women became INTEL
gent in regard to civic matters, 70
there is no fact more apparent tina
that the leisure class is severed
blamed (and it is hazardous in
democracy to incur the enmity of
large and growing group of voters
for all the misuse of public money
that results in rent raising and othe
necessary price advancing The e
istence of this under current of hosti
sentiment is not known to most wor
en-. nor do they appreciate that I'll
supposedly butterfly life they lead
regarded with smoldering rage /
women and girls who toll hard an
wearisomely for pittauces but it
time they realized that those dem
gogues in the forum, and In editor
chairs. who delight to set class again
class have so largely misled and e1
Filtered these poor people toward tt
rich that large and influential gro,
OF them is openly committed to Il
doctrine of putting stop" as the
leaders phrase it, to the cutting
coupons
When in New York municip
election an INSCRIPTIONS profession
friend of the people," who promis
wild changes, can poll vote of abo
$4,000, while the socialists at |
same election poll about 100000
making together 265, 900 votes, or ne
" half, out of total registration
some 100000. for the leaders of d
content-it is evident that all [
forces of law and order cannot {
soon begin to work aggressively
constructive progress. And in t
movement, as imperative as it
worthy, the young debutante's int
est should be enlisted through
formation of girls clubs in charge
competent men and women, who '
present the less obvious but M
fundamental aspects of current eve
and direct the study of ciyics.
The New York girl of the upper
lower east side has the advantage
the most sheltered girl in this !
ticular. She informs herself as
questions of government, and the Il
through study of the socialist autl
'ties, and this she does so assiduor
that it is matter of general knt
edge that she knows more about pc