Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-08-30


viii Play in Campaign Will Have
Much Bearing.
Washington, Aug 24-Woman, love
ly woman, is fast gaining co-equal pol
itical recognition with mere man.
The coming campaign will witness the
unprecedented spectacle of the three
leading presidential candidates max
ing an earnest plea for female votes.
While the Progressive Party is the on
ly one that has Incorporated plank
for woman suffrage III its platform,
both the Republican and Democratic
leaders are establishing national or
ganizastions with women at their
head for the purpose of at
tracing the female vote in the six
states that have already granted equal
suffrage, and for the moral effect it
may have on the male voters in other
states, where this question has be-
come a burning issue.
The voter Will not only be treated to
the unusual spectacle of an ex-presi-
dent trying for q third term at the
Head of a new party, but will have the
pleasure of seeing and hearing female
spellbinders who will stump the coun-
try in support of their favorite candi-
dates.
Colorado, California, Idaho, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming are the six
states in the union that have already
given women the right to vote. and
it is estimated that there are 500 900
female voters n these states. So for
midable a number has to be reckoned
with even by presidential candidate
When Colonel Roosevelt swept the
state of California in the presidential
primaries last spring, the female vote
1t was claimed was responsible for his
enormous majority. The states above
mentioned have 65 votes out of total
Of 531 in the electoral college.
Active work has already been begun
by the various presidential candidates
to capture these votes. The Women
National Wilson and Marshall Organ
i2ation with Mrs. ]. Borden Hartman
at the head, has opened its headquar
tiers in the Fifth Avenue Building, n
Y, and the work of forming state or
CARNATIONS is being rapidly conducted
Governor Wilson's three daughters,
and Mrs. Thomas Gore wife of the Sen
ator from Oklahoma, are a few of the
other prominent women connected
with the Democratic camp sign.
The Republican organization. not to
be outdone, has announced the APP
pointment of Miss Helen Boswell, of
New York. as chairman of the Wo-
mems League for the reelection of
President Taft a woman's auxiliary
organization to work for the Republi-
can organization in the equal suffrage
states. Miss Boswell is president Of
the National Women's Republican or
ganization. The Republicans, howey-
er, have received slight setback, ow-
ing to the refusal of Miss Helen Board
man to act as head of the advisory
committee. Miss Boardman, who is
a close friend of the Taft family, has
decided not to enter into the cam
paign owing to her position as head
of the American Red Cross Society.
The Bull Moose" party is by no
means depending alone on its woman
suffrage plank to attract female votes.
They have opened national vomen's
organization in the Metropolitan Tow
er with Miss Alice Carpenter, prom
inent advocate of equal right in
charge, and the work of organizing
state clubs is rapidly under way. Miss
Carpenter has submitted a plan of or
ganization prepared by the women
members of the National committee
of the Progressive Party, which has
been approved. According to this plan
each state and each county committee
is to have at least one woman men,
Der. They are to attached to the par
ty headquarters and work with the
mittee shoulder to shoulder. Their
special worn will be existing women
in the campaign, and particularly get
ting suffrage workers out to spellbind
for the Progressives.
Joy reigns throughout the suffra-
SFttC CdlhpS tufOuSuOut tUe country
The Leaders are enthusiastic over the
present situation. and while they ad-
init the election of any presidential
candidate they may support will not
result in Equal svffrage throughout the
country, they claim that the recogni-
ton of the movement by the politi-
cal parties will have a strong moral
effect on fastening the constitutional
amendments in the various states
throughout the union, providing for
equal suffrage.
The attitude of the National Ameri-
can Woman Suffrage Association in
the coming campaign will be strictly
non-partisan, according to the Wo-
mans Journal, the official organ of the
organization. 1t claims that the asso-
citation will work for no man or no
party at the polls but will try to de-
feat its enemies. Thus, the friendly