Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-08
WOMENDONTW WANT TOBE KEPT ON
PINNACLE BY GRAFT SAYS LEADER
SUFFRAGETTE CAN SEE
VICTORY IN CALIFORNIA
Mrs. Shelly ToIhurst Amused by
BaIIinger's Comment on
Result in Washington

When the news that Washington had
granted the franchise to women was
carried to Richard A. Ballinger, secre-
tary of the interior, he is reported to
have said: "Yes, am ashamed to say
that Washington did grant women the
right to vote. If I had been there
would have voted against it. We have
them voting in school elections now"
Mrs. Shelley Tolhurst, vice president
of the Political Equality league, re-
ceived this speech at the league office
in the Story building with qualification.
She laughed merriy as she considered
the disappointment which this man has
suffered at the hands of his consti-
tuents. and said: "Ha! Ha! So Bal
linger is ashamed is he? That naughty
crest which he has never bowed is now
humbled to the dust because, forsooth,
the women of his state may vote! Well
l am glad he said that. l am glad that
he is our enemy, because those interests
which he represents are opposed to
woman suffrage, and we know II"
Speaking further of the success In
Washington, Mrs. Tolhurst said:
1--WE cannot understand yet why the
amendment carried in Washington and
was lost in Oregon. 1t must be that
it was through the same awakening
forces which swept over our own state
and placed the insurgent Republicans
so eminently in the majority. Realiz-
ing that the spirit of true democracy
is to prevail, men and women, too, will
find hope in the situation and will unite
to improve it.
1.-THE direct primary has helped in
this and the delegation which Southern
California is to send to the Legislature
this year is one of which we may well
be proud.
BELIEVES IN PEOPLE
'It shows conclusively that when the
people have an understanding of their
privileges and a chance to express
them they may be depended upon to do
the right thing. 1t is the packed con-
ventions which have caused the cleo
ton of men less keen, but we know
that this year we are sending re-
markable body of men to represent the
interests of this part of the state"
Some of the opposition to the cause
is reminiscent of faint, far voice from
the past" continued the speaker, "and
a remark by Senator Hurd repeated to
me recently was to the effect that
women were now upon pinnacles and
that giving them the ballot would pull
them down to a position of equality
with men. When 1 heard that
laughed. Pinnacle! Where is that pin
nacle? Ask the shop girls, the wait
resses in restaurants, the underpaid
and overworked school teachers. How
much of a pinnacle do they occupy 1
wonder?
"The shirt waist strikers and all the
other ten million working women in the
United States would like to get on that
pinnacle, and yet we are told solemnly
and with much force that to vote for
the tax collector, or to express
preference about the tariff on sugar
will knock us all off"
This proved most amusing idea to
Mrs. Tolhurst, and she told number
of pertinent stories relative to the situ-
alton among the men and women she
knows.
SAYS GRAFT OPPOSES THEM
"We feel that we would rather be
knocked off the pinnacle we now oc-
cupy than be kept there by force by the
political enemies of woman suffrage,
said Mrs. Tolhurst when her laugh was
over, for what woman wants to be
kept in such an elevated position by
the allied powers of graft, booze and
protected vice." and the speakers eyes
flashed with spirit, where a moment
ago they had sparkled with laughter
and merriment.
1.-THE vicious elements massed against
the movement have great resources at
their command, money, organization
and experience. They are professionals
at the political game, and we are only
amateurs. What wonder then that they
have so frequently won out?'
"How definite has the opposition be-
come in this state?" was the question
put to Mrs. Tolhurst, and she replied:
1.-The strongest protected forces which
were used so effectively in oregon and
tried in vain in Washington have not
yet been introduced here, and our pres
ent oposition is generally that less
tangible, but not less effectual one of
Indifference. This we meet among
persons who are not political enemies
of the cause, but theoretical opponents
who do not yet realize that according
to the democratic idea upon which our
government is founded suffrage for
women is as logical and inevitable as
for men, and that to dispute it now
would be like trying to disprove the
theory of evolution or maintaining the
divine right OF kings.
volumes could be written upon this,
but what's the use?" said this busy
woman turning again to her desk,
where countless matters relative to her
duties in the league demanded her at
tention.