Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1911-11-30
| Oar National Suffrage Campaign
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"votes for women y the err that
rings around the world today.
It is echoed and re-echoed through
the length and breadth Of our own
country, drors the conservative New
england States to the progressive
pacific Coast, where the cause has
inst won its latest and greatest vic
tory. 1t is raised in England. France
and Germany. 1t b triumphansiy pro-
claimed in the Scandinavian countries
where women are rapidly being en-
franchised. 1t Is even heard IL the
far East, among nations whose women
have but recently been aroused from
a condition of abject slavery.
Socialists of all countries have
taken up the cry and are making
"yotes for women" one of.their urgent
present day demands. Whys
Because Socialism stands for true
democracy, and there can be no true
democracy while half Of the human
race is maintained in political depen-
dence.
Because Socialism seeks to accom-
ulIsh the emancipation Of the working
class, and the working class consists
Of women as well as men.
because Socialism means the
achievement of q higher social order,
and the brains and hearts and hands
of both men and women are needed to
hiring about its ultimate victory.
When woman suffrage was FIRST
made a plank in Socialist platforms It
was but an abstract declarauon Of
principles. It could not have been
more while the woman's movement
was purely courgeois movement,
while cultured women Of the middle
classes were almost its sole support
ers and the women of the working
class remained Indifferent Or even
hostile to its appeal.
But since aomentous change has
swept over all modern countries.
since women have come forth BY
thousands and millions into industry
and commerce, into all the trades and
professions, and since these VOL king
women themselves have begun to
recognize. their need Of political
rights. women Suffrage has ceased to,
be an academic question and has be-
come the problem Of the hour. This
is especially true in the United States.
Already six states Of the Union have
established full equal Suffrage for al
their citizens and other states win
shortly follow. 1t is only . question
of time. and not Of 3 long time either.
when this whole country win have
risen to the height Of . true, political
democracy.
Today then every real Socialist y
an ardent suffragist; not merely tor
reasons of abstract justice, but also
for reasons of political expediency.
The fact that this one plank Of our
platform is at the very Threshold Of
realization, clearly places two duties
before the Socialist party of this coun-
try: Firstly, to teach the women Of
the working class their special need
Of the ballot. Secondly. to tea.h them
how to use the ballet in the interest
OF their class.
Is the Socialist party performing
these duties2 It IS: and let the wo-
men of the country. especially the
working women. take notice that It L
the only political party that Is ngRtr
ing their battles.
By means Of q national Womanss
committee and many local committees.
by the special Efforts Of women or
ganizers, by means Of the part5 press,
the suffrage cause il being propagated
among the women 81 the working
class BY its annual 'sWoman's Day
the Socialist party demonstrates 70
the world its ardent support Of woman
suffrage. But that Is not all. The So
cialist party has Just inauguEated 2
new campaign for woman suffrage
that promises to be greater. further
reaching and more effective THAI any
thing previously attempted.
From our National Office in Chicago
the country is being flooded with
thousands of petition blanks; 2 nation
al Socialist petitions TO Congress, ask
ing the enfranchisement Of women
throughout the United States. There
have been similar petitions before.
The National Woman Suffrage Asso-
citation presented one not long ago.
But this is the flrst time IN the me-.
tory Of the suffrage movement that 2
petition Tor woman suffrage III pc
submitted by political party.
Not disfranchised women but en-
II