The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-29

Los Angeles, Cal, Nov. 29.-ThC
most strenuous and most interesting
municipal campaign ever known in thC
history Of Los Angeles is rapidly draw
ing to a close. only a few days more
of hard campaign work and the decid-
ing battle will be fought at the polls
ON December 8. What the result will
be, nobobdy can tell; but whatever tn,
decision may be, it will be made by the
vote of women.
For years the women have been
working assiduously to gain political
recognition and the right to vote In
this state. At last, at the state cleo
ton a little more than a month ago,
their urgent wish was fulfilled and the
franchise was granted to them by an
amendment to the state constitution.
That the women have now actually en-
tered the political arena i'm this state
and are a power to be reckoned with
in the future is no longer a debatable
question. The campaign i'm this city.
now drawing to it's close is an argu-
ment which cannot fail to convince
even those scoffers who belittlcd the
Importance of the votes for women
movement a few months ago This
which will go down in his
tory as the first positive manifestation
Of womans political power i'm Califor-
mia, was a battle royal fought by wo-
men.
Hold Balance of Power.
II was granted to the women of Los
to undergo the first test of
their political fitness i'm campaign
of unparalleled fierceness and, on De-
cember 8, the day Of election, they will
be the first among the women of Cali
fornia not only TO use their newly
granted franchise but To decide the re-
suit of the election There is not the
slightest doubt that the women of Los
hold the balance of power and
that the outcome of the election de.
pends entirely upon the vote of the
women. of whom more than $4,000 have
been registered.
At the recent primaries an exceed
ingly small vote was cast. job Harri-
man, the Socialist candidate for mayor
who is associated with the defense of
the MacNamaras. defeated George Al
eXander the present mayor, who is
running on the good government ticket,
by more than 5000 votes but his plu-
e. .,F a. Ixr
than 1000 votes and for this reason it
was left for the coming election TO
make the final decision.
Women Are Campaigning.
In the meantime. however, the right
to vote was granted to women and the
of Los Angeles, fully aware of
their power, were not slow i'm aVailing
themselves of their rights by register
ing for the coming municipal election.
After the fzzle Of the primaries the
male voters Of the city too. realized
that they would have to bestir them-
selves and the result was that since
The primaries more than $4,000 voters
have been registered.
job Hartman. who has a strong fol-
lowing among the laboring classes. re-
,eived financial support from Socialists
In all parts of the country and carried
on an energetic campaign. Mayor Al
axander. realizing how critical the sit
lation was and that the decision rest
I'd with the women. appealed to the
after. especially those of the wealthy
'lasses and they responded bravely.
travelling in automobiles, scores Of So
'iety women made a thorough canvas
among the laboring women. urging
hem to use their votes and influence
against the Socialist candidate. The
Hartman party also had women cleo
ioneering among the women Of the
poorer classes and only the election
viii show which side was more sue
'essful i'm its efforts.
.------. ----i -- = - - -