The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-10-28
THAT SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT

No more systematic campaign mas
ever been carried on by the leaders of
any cause than the one which the suf-
fragists of Washington have conducted
ia the past eighteen months. They or
gained a legislative attack which
proved irresistible in the last session
Tearing a leaf out of the book of prac-
teal politics they lobbied in a manner
that made the seasoned political cam
paigner gasp for breath and left the
law makers opposed to their cause, high
and dry on the bank After storming
and capturing the outposts they di-
rected their attack on the inner works
OF the citadel, the apathy and preju-
dice OF public opinion. For months a
campaign of education and agitation
has been carried on among the "sover-
elgn lords Of this state, unparalleled
IN its th0roughne-s and resourcefulness
80 public place has been immune from
the storm of suffrage literature, no
public gathering of consequence, but
he ardent advocates Of suffrage have
been present distributing smiles and
pamphlets in equal proportion. The
roiuum, of the state press has been in
great measure freely given to suffra
eist propaganda. Every phase of pub
.ie.tr that was ever thought Of in the
pas. has been worked and the fertile
mind and quick wi. Of fomininity has
invented neu ones.
.u the sth day OF November the vot
ers sill determine whether all this agi
U'i.a and expenditure OF nervous en-
ergv is to be repaid by immediate vic,
tory for suffrage or whether the bat
81. must De fought over. For bear this
n aiHi. The suffrage movement is no
sporadic 3utburst, but a deep, vital
question that is going to be settled
and The women carrying on the fight
are u.. ing to abandon it should they
m..t with 90 reverse on election day OF
tAe Far 1910. Should they lose this
tme. the legislature Of 1911 will be
.-'a-e- gain and another state wide
a 1a.m entered into You can't set
u. question by Postponing it so the
"..r- might as well capitulate now as
a.rr In all the argument pro
a.l com a7 this question vc have failed
D.. .aI al.h logic in any argument
advanced AGAINST the amendment. There
is mot single argument produced
aean. the amendent un the grounds
Oh ."on'mic-. morality. or the ability
OF tA. average woman to vote intelH-
gently that does not rebound like a
boomerang on the male voter himself.
u you don't believe this statement
study the conditions which the nal.
voter has brought upon himself through
his use Of the ballot. We are much
Inclined to beliey, that woman could
make "a better job OF it with the bal
lot than does the man. Her perception
of things vital is keener and her intui
tion lar more finely developed. The
opponents OF suffrage c0ntemptuously
point to the "home as her sphere" For
the sake Of argument, wen admit it.
The same line of argument followed
ont must admit that woman is more in
terested in the environments and sur.
roundings of the home for in the home
she must live and have her being. If
the "home is her sphere" then her
radius of activity and usefulness must
be bounded on all sides by ,he atmos
phere of the home.
What problem Of government in this
n any other civilized country does not
a the last analysis strike directly at
he homeY And, this being so, is it fair
hat the one being the most concerned