Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-07-03
PHOENIX, ARIZONA. JULY 3. 1916
Women and the Ballot


In her interesting letter, printed in
The Republican yesterday, Mrs.
Frances Willard Munds of Prescott,
says:
Governor Kibbey, in referring to
the new constitution, said: Let every
line of it be inspired by whole heart
ed patriotism, with regard only for
the welfare of all the people all the
time Let it be the result of the
best judgment of the honest men and
women of Arizona, with a total dis
regard of politics. Now will Gov
ernor Kibbey kindly explain just how
the women will get their best judg-
ment into the constitution? Some
two thousand organized woman suf-
fragists of Arizona are holding their
breath awaiting his answer. 1t is the
thing above all others that they want
to know
We surmise that if Governor Kib-
hey finds time to answer Mrs. Munds.
his answer will be to the effect that
one way for the good women of Ari-
iona to exert an influence in the
framing of our constitution would be
for them to tell their husbands what
they want in the constitution.
AS one of the reforms distinguish
ing the new state. we should like to
see the ballot given to women. There
is absolutely no sound argument that
can be made against equal suffrage.
Perhaps the women of Arizona will
get the ballot next year; they GER
tainly will, if they make it clear that
they want it. But meanwhile, they
can easily get their best judgment
into the constitution" by the simple
process of taking an interest in the
questions that will confront the con-
stitutional convention, by making
themselves familiar with the details
of those questions, and by telling the
delegates in the convention, and by
requesting their husbands to tell the
delegates, what ought to be done.
But first of all. since they cannot
the women can make themselves a
potent factor by telling their hus-
bands what they want in the con-
stitution and advising their husbands
how to vote in the election for dele
gates.
Not only on the question of votes
for women" but on all other public
questions that affect women. the av
erage woman greatly undertakes her
potential power under the existing
laws Although she may not vote
herself, it is within her power TO
direct her husbands vote whenever
she chooses to exercise her authority.
The average American man is his
wife's cheerful slave For her COM
fort and happiness and for the COM
fort and happiness of their children.
he works and devotes his energies
and his thoughts most of the time.
The question of her preferences in
the matter of issues before the peo-
pie is readily considered by him
when she takes the trouble to make
her preferences known.
The whole trouble with the equal
suffrage propaganda is that the wo-
men themselves have failed to make
il plain that they want the ballot.
When that fact is made clear, they
will get the ballot, and quickly. Mrs.
Munds says, and we do not doubt it, that
there are now two thousand women
in Arizona banded together for wo-
man suffrage This is an excellent
start toward success. and we con-
graduate the suffragists upon such
a good showing. But they should
not stop with two thousand; they
should secure the enlistment of
majority of the women of the terri
tory. if they would assure success.
When the supposed indifference OF
women themselves has been overcome.
and when a majority of the women
of Arizona have joined the suffrage
organization, the battle will be won.