The Washington herald., 1912-07-10
A Few Reflections
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

1t has taken few days since ths
adjournment OF the two great politica
conventions this year to recover our femi
nine breath and get down to an hour OF
SO Of calm reflection.
But the emotional turmoil is over now
and 1t is only the after-thoughts tha,
Iamuse, disturb or enlighten US.
1t would scarcely be human, would It.
| for a woman to fail to remind grave
politicians and mankind generally of cer-
tain weaknesses supposedly belonging to
| women alone?
You remember 1t has always been de.
clared thai where women gather to-
gether in large numbers. to discuss and
decide, issues are forgotten in personali-
ties, and that as the discussion wakes
! warm and warmer. unkind epithets are
hurled about and the contest becomes
a merry war.
Well. some OF US read the proceedings
OF those turbulent conventions. line upon
line, and We are treasuring them up
in the great storehouse OF memory. If,
in the march OF events, II ever happens
that a big woman-convention Is charged
with hysteria. emotionalism. prejudice.
and lack OF logic we shall simply open
the doors OF memory and let loose those
old convention chickens to roost in their
own home-ground.
Indeed and indeed, woman has been
beautifully exonerated. for her ~hysteria
has been as nothing by the side OF the
strange demonstrations we have Witness
ed.
But. after ALL nobody says that man
is unfit to govern.
Possibly 1t is a small and an untrue
criticism, but IL occurred to some OF us
that women were too much in evidence
in those conventions.
1t is bit difficult TO explain just
what is meant by that. because wives
daughters and friends quite naturally
drift to the convention centers to follow
the fortunes of those who claimed their
interest. Nobody wonders at that, every
one admires their loyalty and their con-
suming interest, and that ends II all. 30
far as the public is concerned.
But there. their part In the conven-
ton story should have stopped. at least.
so II impressed some who just stood on
the outside.
II seems to be the policy Of the times
TO court publicity and to get in the
limelght for no other reason than that
one happens to be the wife Of Mr.. Can
didate or Mrs. Possibility. And. as
some of US look upon II, ii is not a
pretty tendency. Women with no real
part in the convention were interviewed,
their costumes described. their pictures
presented. their whims and ways ex-
plotted; and sometimes they took part in
spectacular demonstrations in behalf of
an aspirant for convention honors.
And 1t did not leave a pleasant i'm
preston.
Personally, there is always adnira-
ton for the woman who dares and does
and, If her achievements warrant public
lty and Justify the limelight one expects
to see her name and her features more
or less exploited.
II is always pleasant to note her
climbing as well and as high as she can
leaving her mark as she goes, but unless
she does climb a bit and accomplish
a bit, the retired spots seem more in
keeping. And particularly at political
conventions where there is rush and
turmoil for the participants. and where
the non-combatants should not seek any
reflected glory.
National conventions, national issues
terested so large a class OF women as
now. They have read, watched the
march of things political and have look
ed st public questions and public meu
as something and somebodies alive and
within the scope OF their interest. And
some of US, who We're in no closer touch
with the great conventions than the
newspapers brought US, would have lIk-
cd it could have seen and heard it all
at first hand
But We must deplore the notoriety
given 10 plain women spectators. who
did not do a thing for the cause but
smile and look their prettiest And We
deplore it on the simple ground that
1t rather detracts from the claim of
earnest womanhood. Let them go and
do as they like. but remain in the
shadow until the time shall have come
when there shall be justification for their
appearance in the light.
1t may be a solitary viewpoint, but
1t has the merit Of being sincere.