The sun., 1910-01-09

dature have been somewhat benefited.
! n machine methods permitted the full
influence of woman In The CAUCUS and
convention she could eject much more.
| as voting is now frequently a choice Of
evils in determining municipal and Stats
issues. 1T is. no reflection then" II is
suggested. -on equal suffrage to show
womsn's incapacity 10 cope with the
existing machinery OF nominations. Equal
suffrage indeed shows in the most strik-
ing way the essential rottenness and
degrading character OF the political ma
chine II need scarcely lie said that
the author ardently believes in a direct
primary system.
so far as il has been possible to make
accurate investigation IL is claimed that
there has been a larger relative per-
centage in ratio to the voting citizenship
OF women voters who do their duty at
the polls than OF men. This would seem
significant in view OF the argument gainst
woman suffrage that it would be exer-
cised irregularly or whimsically. Per-
haps Colorado women are more single
eyed and conscientious than the average
woman. or at all events they take them
selves more seriously. The statistics
appear TO show that in the election OF
woman candidates, mostly for Offices
in the educational system. success de-
pends on the woman; but that, other
things equal, their inclusion on the ticket
strengthens it. But this may be said
Of : non suffrage States as well, as DR..
Sumner brayely admits. The most am
bilious politicians among the Colorado
wn ks, hax ru,d
that TO get the best results the sphere
should be narrowly limited. Within the
limit il is asserted that women nave
been more efficient than men and quite
as successful in contributing to party
strength. How little all this has touched
below the surface Of the social-economic
side is indicated in the facts that the
average wages OF the women teachers
are decidedly lower than those OF the
men teachers and that men always get
the highly paid places. Non-sufrage
States where burning question has been
made Of salary discriminsti ton can sit up
and take notice. -
II is IN the eject OF woman suffrage on
the legislation affecting women and chill
dren that it's conspicupus objective nature
is alleged to justify itself most fully
Though much remains TO be done. no
State has a code. we are told which covers
essential needs so well in the protection
OF women and children from social and
economic wrongs. This is not only the
result OF the direct ballot but the tonic
OF the enfranchised women in stifening
the moral backbone OF hcan. Il is indi-
Gated more than once In q very intelli-
gent community. and a most trenchant
fact 1t is. that IL IL not the bad woman OF
the ignorant woman who avails OF the
franchise: il 10 those women who under
any conditions tend TO be the salt of the
community.
DR.. Sumner lays stress. however. on
the subjective phase Of the equal suffrage
problem as it's crux and not on it's polit-
ioal facts. interesting a. these might be.
1t IL the effect on women themselves, their
outlook on life. their relationship to the
home. Corrupt as politics may continue
to be in Colorado. the trial Of woman to
cleanse the stable has been resilient,
meaning "a little broadening in the out
look. a little glimpse Of wider interests
than pots and kettles. trivial scandal and
bridge whist There 10 no evidence that
going 10 tine polls MAKES for loss in wom-
anly characteristic more than the buy
ing Of ribbons. Families frequently all 60
together, old and young. u1e1 and women;
nor do they always vote the same ticket
on the larger issues. As for mans chiv-
airy, one woman told DR.. Summer that she
never knew what il was till she went to
the polls. What the ballot has done for
women in Colorado the author sums up
IN sentence OF two Of her final estimate:
1t has enlarged their interests. quickened
their civic consciousness and developed
In many cases ability Of high order.
which has been Of service to the city. the
country and the State. Closely allied to
this wider outlook and richer, opportu-
nifty. and also distinctly visible at least as
q tendency. is the development Of spirit
Of comradeship between the sexes