The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-09-26
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
Can Never Be Achieved by Women Until They Recog
nize the Necessity of Organization and Combina-
tons to Secure the Franchise

and combine for the purpose of the
one essential thing that will adjust
every yexed economic and social ques-
ton in time-the universal enfran-
chisement of the sex
They cannot see that they put this
off just SO long by combinations into
small groups each vociferating that
they are the only entrance through
which the economic heaven can be
reached.
1t is unfortunate that women, as
well as men, always number among
their numbers a few who take advan-
tage of righteous cause to project
themselves into the limelight
1t isn't the cause or the question
they care SO much for as the opportu-
nifty for posing in the spotlight and
singing in loud brass voice-"see
what a great man am l."
This, oftener than not, acts as a sort
of boomerang and prevents the accom-
plishment of the very thing they are
pretending to advocate
There are always a lot of these fools
around and always will be, because it's
human nature.
And they're in the suffrage move
ment.
But look past them.
Keep your eyes on the goal
What women want-that is the ele-
ment which counts in the social
schemes economic freedom and the
only way they are going to get it is
through political equality with men. ri
In Indiana the straightest avenue
through which this can be attained
is the Progressive party.
We want it here in Indiana
Why not work for it, then, when we
have a chance to get it in this legiti-
mate manner?
What if you do not agree entirely
with the tenets of that party?
Although it's platform includes ev-
erything which women in this state
have been fighting for for years.
The point is that if the Progressive
win in the next state election, women
will get the franchise.
After they get it they can affiliate
themselves with whatever political
group expresses their political ideals.
But, in the meantime, take what you
can get.
Woman will always remain an indus
trial slave, her economic independence
will never be achieved unless she rec
ognizes this.
Women must combine-all together.
If they'll do this and embrace the
opportunity that is handed to them on
silver platter-if the metaphorical
bull may be permitted-this time next
year, maybe, lot of first rate women
will be getting first rate compensation
in return for their work. 10.
Competent women are getting weary
of doing first rate work for third rate
salaries and seeing third rate men re-
ceiving first rate wages.
We're tired of it.
We can stop it.
Why don't you all get together in
Indiana and do it?
Give one big, united shove-and
you're on top.
And there you can, for the first time,
take long, deep, economic breath.
You can see all points of the indus
trial compass.
If you're blind any longer, you're
willfully so.
Fine, strong, determined faces are
those you see among the delegates to
the State Federation of Labor.
Entirely differing in type from that
a reporter of conventions sees often
est.
Here is something strong, elemental.
Life scraped down to the bone.
These are the representatives of
those who work with the hands.
Who form the foundations.
Who are in at the start.
And there is, too, a sort of ferocity
if it could so be termed, in their So
cial attitude.
The ferocity of the fighter, who has
gained his present position. inch by
inch, and by fearful odds.
1t is splendid after a fashion.
And embodies certain pathoS.
1t is a sort of vizualization of that
terrible social system in which every
man is at every other mans throat.
The labor unions are the moat be-
hind which the modern worker en-