New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-05
President Taft's Views.

Before any of the Presidential conven-
t,ons met Mr.. Taft said in speech at
Toledo:
The best government. In the sense OF
the one most certain to provide for ana
protect the rights and governmental needs
Of every class. is that one in which every
class has voice. In recognition OF this
the tendency from earliest time has been
the enlargement Of the electorate 10 IN
clude as many as possible Of those gov
erned. but even to-day the government Is
by a majority OF one-fourth. This IS the
nearest 20 government OF the whole
people that we have ever had. But woman
suffrage will change this, and II Is doubt
less coming as soon az the electorate can
be certain that most women desire 1t and
will assume its burdens and responsible
ties"
This. therefore may be accepted as
President Tafts position-that he believes
women Just as capable OF voting wisely
as men: that their influence az voters
have a most beneficial effect on the gem
eral welfare. and especially on the ques-
ton OF international peace. He does not
say that he thinks they should wait for
Acknowledgement until a majority ask for
il but only that they cannot get II unul
the electors are persuaded that majority
want It.
II Is indeed true that women cannot OBJ
tain the suffrage In any state until a
majority OF the voters express their con-
sent AZ the polls. but where they have
done this II has not been In any Instance
because a majority Of women Impressed
upon them that they wanted TO vote II
has been because a comparatively small
minority were able to convince the elect
ora that their cause was just whether q
majority of women were In favor OF II
or NOT The electorate taken as a whole
"a nor nv any means waiting TO be certain
that most women desire the vote and
would use H. That fact could have been
ascertained at any time within the last
twenty years by the election returns in
the states where they are permitted to
vote.
Waiting for Instructions.
The electorate for the most part has
simply been waiting for instructions from
the political bosses, whether these nave
been the men In control of the party ma
chimes" the liquor interests or the cor
porations OF various kinds. railroads
manufactures, etc. n certain portion OF
the electorate always has been and al
ways will be so hostile TO woman sur
frage that those composing that faction
would not vote for IL II they knew that
query woman wanted II. and this portion
% NOT confined to the vicious and the
IGNORANT. but is found IN the churches
the colleges and the miscalled 'best so
ciety."
President Taft is right, however, In his
fundamental idea that lin every state
where women are striving for the suf-
frage they must bring greater pressure
from women themselves than they have
vet been able TO do. Failure in this re-
spect was the principal factor In the re-
cent defeat I'm Ohio. There is no doubt
that the President IL entirely honest and
sincere I'm the statement Of his views,
and IL should be sufficient TO hold the
LOYALTY OF Republican women. One fact
is clearly apparent-that 1t has not been
made merely TO get votes
Since woman suffrage has now become
n political issue and many women are
affillating with the various parties, II
seems advisable to have clear record
of the position of the Presidential can
didates on the question. Mr.. Roosevelts
official announcement on the issues OF
the day. which, with those Of some OF the
other candidates, was ordered by a
United States Senate committee 10 be
printed and circulated as campaign
document has this to say on the en-
franchlsement OF women
Working women have the same need TO
combine for protection that workingmen
have; the ballot is as necessary for one
class as for the other: we do not believe
that with the two sexes there Is Identity
of function. but We do believe that there
should be equality OF right, and therefore
we favor woman suffrage.
Would Leave Vote to the Women.
In those conservative states where there
is genuine doubt how the women stand