New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-14
BY Ida Hustled Harper.

]
suffragsts who have violated the policy
Of national and state suffrage associa-
tons by Joining n political party ana
supporting It's candidates. the events OF
the last few weeks surely should have this
effect The women who conducted the
campaign for the suffrage amendment in
Ohio say that the Progressivcs failed
them utterly ''rhc Progressive party
pledges itself 20 the task Of securing
equal suffrage 20 men and women alike
This is the plank in It's national platform
adopted at Chicago on August { amid
the widest enthusiasm, with the women
delegates marching around the hall
cheering and singing, while Mr.. Roose-
welt who was TO be the leader in carry
out this pledge. waved his hat and
urged them on.
Within less than month came direct
opportunity In Ohio to prove its sincerity
and how did il result? out OF forty
two constitutional amendments submitted
that for woman suffrage was the only one
not adopted. The returns Indicate that
but q little over 10000 votes were cast
I'm favor. The Progressive campaign
managers are boasting that they will
carry that state in November Do they
expect 10 do this with only 10000 voters
out Of a million and a half. the total
number in the state; or out Of l12l,5Ss,
the number polled at the last Prcsi-
Dental election?
After the November election II one
will count the votes cast by the Pro
gressves and compare them with tho
| aQgc IN fat. -
amendment he will see how the Pro-
gresslves devoted themselves TO the
task Of securing equal suffrage for
women'-or rather. she will have her
eyes opened. for only women are de-
ceived by the pledge Of this new party.
The men of the whole country are laugh
ing at Il. The Progressives are not
alone, however, IN failing 20 keep a
promise to women. Both Prohhitionists
and Socialists have always had woman
suffrage planks IN their platforms; IN
the Ohio state election Of 1910 these two
parties together polled nearly II 100 votes.
Even not allowing them any increased
strength this year, II they had voted
solidly for this amendment, counting
only a small number OF votes from Re
publicans. Democrats and ProgressIvcs
which unquestionably were cast FOR IT..
they could easily have overcome the
majority against it.
This Ohio election simply demonstrates
what has been proved again and again,
that national and state platforms cannot,
by declaring for woman suffrage guaran-
tee that even majority Of the party win
vote for II. This must always remain a
question for the individual clector go
decide himself. and IN every state where
women have been enfranchised il has
been due 70 men OF all parties. This UNI
varying record Of twenty years has
taught the leaders Of the movement that
IT is a fatal mistake 20 indorse any one
party and make enemies OF the in
diyidual men IN the others u is prin-
cipally for this reason that they protest
so strenuously against the action OF those
suffragists who have rushed hcadloug
into the Progressive party
Mr.. Roosevet's Recent Record.
What is the record OF Mr.. Roosevelt
himself In this last month since he made
his solemn covenant" with the women q
the Chicago convention and telcgraphed
Miss Jane Adams aftorward: II am for
woman suffrage without qualification or
equivocatiOn"? Here was his chanc. N
Ohio to prove II instantaueously and a.
fectively. Did he send forth clarion
call to the ProgresSives IN that state 20
vote for this amendment? on the con-
trary, he never was so quiet about any
thing In all his life, but his chief as
sistant platform builder. James r. Gar
field, OF Cleveland, was openly against It,
and his wife joined the womens anti
suffrage association in the midst OF the
campaign. Walter r. Brown. Progressive
state chairman. declined 90 review the
suffrage parade at Columbus. Did SIR
Roosevelt 20 10 Ohio and make even one
? speech 20 help the women In the great
est struggle ever made for the suffrage,
No, but he slipped through tho state In
= the darkness of the night before election
day, so that he could not even be called
- on for a speech from the rear end Of the
= train.
1 II eli of Mr. Roosevet's exceedingly
dark record on woman suffrage previous
, to the Chicago convention could be
Q sponged off the slate, the one he has made
4 IN the single month since then ought to
Q convince every friend Of the cause OF bis
) utter insncerity. He began his vote set
Z ting campaign IN Rhode Island. and went
, on through New England until lie reached
the northern part Of Vermont withou,
the slightest reference TO the suffrage
plank BY that time he had undoubtedly
heard from the women In no uncertain
tones, and OF st. Johnsbury, to an audi
2 ence of Changers and Prohibitlonistg who
= could not possibly be antagonized by IT
2 he launched forth into a panegyric on
! woman suffrage. In the course Of II he
: contradicted absolutely the statements
Z / in his Outlook" article OF last February
D., and nullifed the most OF what he used
20 say about the duties of the wife and
q mother" I'm the homilies he delivered 80
, often while President, but he did give his
, followers among the suffragists some rea-
son for the faith that is in them.
Consistently Silent on Question.
: Again Mr.. Roosevelt spoke in Connect
cut and Massachusetts and again he was
Z discreetly silent on the suffrage plank
then across Ohio by night; no word in