The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
BY MOLLY ELLIOT sEAWELL

1 ton representing SO much effort. S,
much strength and hope and none.
spent, was presented by our various so
called representatives. The sheets OF
names wero rolled ana tied together
and these were piled H. bundles upor
the desks of such Senator'S as hat
| SIaciously--or. ungraclously. as tho
ense misht be-consented to present
the citizens request. The galleries
were crowded To their full capacity
/ with eager women. all keenly alive tc
| every movement to every word, to
| every little thing that went ON below
where the bored gentlemen In all their
delegated superiority moved about
| chatting with one another, indifferent
| 10 the great, long continued prayer
| Tor Justice, the evidence of which lay
there speechless upon their desks. III
nally. when the appointed hour came,
one after another OF these superior
gentlemen rose, spoke his very few
presentation words, handed his bundle
or paper rolls to tho awaiting page.
ana TOOK his seat again, glad to be
uonc with disagreeuble task. while
INC page carried the white tied-up rolls
10 the Speakers desk. when they were
al trundled off in baskets. and then ana
/ thcre The great woman suffrage peti-
non became SO much waste paper. u
like fate will meet all petitions by the
disfranchised and by the helpless
But, now mark one point OF differ
chcc between that petition and this one
| OF which we write This one Is insti-
gated by political party, one that is
growing rapidly, one that even to-day
| l5 TO be reckonci with, and ono to
which the future belongs. Tho repre-
sentative of this party is TO be the
! sponsor for this new petition. and II
VIII he interesting 10 watch the result.
Using Party Machinery.
But apart from this we must make
the most OF this unique opportunity.
We must cooperate to the fullest ex-
tent in making "BerEcrs petition" a
marvel In siyo as well as in import
ance. The value of this kind of work
from an educational point OF View is
recognized by almost every one. In
this particular case this kind OF value
is enhanced for the reason that while
Socialists stand committed TO full adult
suffrage. they have not always been
keen in preaching the doctrine; they
nave even been accused at times OF
! lukcwnrmncss III regard to 1t. Now
mere is the Socialist party coming out
| sGuarciy and agsrcsivcly to work for
woman suffrage, and Is putting the ef-
| iicient party machinery 10 work to col
! lcct signatures to the petition.
Suffragists know that it has been
|
Suffrage teachings. for the reason
tomonS othcrsl that tho working class
mas but little faith in middle class sur
fragists. But the working people do
! trust the Socialists. and their effort to
secure signatures 70 the petition VIII
| lead to great deal of suffrage cduca-
tion where st Is most needed by the
people best fitted TO give it. With So
cialists actively at work along these
lines tho working girls will soon he
aroused and their signatures can bc
secured i'll great numbers. The suf-
frnSists, on the other hand can take
! care of the people who are not in sym
pathy with Socialists. and can bring In
list OF names that VIII swell our
Joint petition to amazing size.
! Let suffragists. therefore. throw
themselves heartily into this work.
send orders for the blanks 70 Caroline
! Lowe, National Headquarters. Socialist
Party. eos Wost Washington street,
| Chicago. I'LL, or to Mary Ware bennett
National Suffrage Headquarters, sos
/ Fifth Avenue. New York,
Observe the statement CONCERNING
| the Sociniiat!c party--"onc that is
growing rapidly. one that even to-day
! ia to be reckoned with and one ia
which the future belongs" The NO
iinan's Journal. the official organ of the
! National Woman Suffrage Association
has been for years an open and out
spoken advocate of socialism and So
cinlists. Items like tho following
which were published in the Woman's
Journal of November 10. 1910:
I Massachusetts suftrnsists will have
n chance for the first time TO hear Mr.
Snowdcn at tho annual meeting of the
massachusetts w. $. a. to be held in
Lowell, October 81 and IS. See notice
in another column"
The Honorable Philip Snowdcu rc.
i forred to is the we'll known SociaIis,
nGitator and member Of Parliament
: The SocIalistic leader was further ad
jNortiscd as follows In tho Wonan's
Journal of November 20. 1910:
: The noted Socialist lecturer Philr
Snowden. and Mrs. Ethel ;nowdcn
10th noted Socialists ana snffra Sists
will speak at fremont Temple Boston
: December l, NJ T. NJ
: The following item is from the wo,
: mans journal OF August ~. 1911:
= The Socialists State conference
: which mot recently in Worcester Mass.
nominated Mrs. Rose Tcnner. of Wor-
5 cestcr, as candidate for Secretary OF
state. About thirty Of the 800 dole
T. gates were women. IN equal suffrage
: plank was Incorporated in the part,
/ platform"
: The published uttcranccs of the Wo.
: mans National Suffrage Association 4,