New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-10
BY Ida Hustled Harper.

a politician as Mrs. Stanton Batch could
fall to invite representatives Of the So
cialist and Prohibition parties to the cam
paign dinner to be given at the Hotel
! Aston by her organization tomorrow
evening. But more incredible is the rea-
son offered by her that they were only
dealing with parties that might control
the Legislature. To get the suffrage bill
through the Legislature is only the first
step, and In this case contrary to the
proverb, 1t is not 1.-THE first step that
counts so much as the second, which
is to secure a favorable majority OF the
voters. When the question comes to this
| stage Socialist and Prohibition votes will
be needed and needed badly. In other
states where suffrage amendments have
! been submitted the Socialists have voted
almost solidly in favor, so far as could be
known. This was unquestionably the
case In Washington In 1910, where their
vote was an important factor in carrying
the amendment. and It was apparently
| the case in California in 1912. During the
| campaign which has just been SO holly
| waged in Ohio the Socialists were entirely
loyal where certain other parties were
| wholly treacherous.
The Prohibitionists of New York State
In 1908 and 1910 polled about 1900 votes,
| and II is quite possible that they might
| hold the balance of power In the vote en-
a woman suffrage amendment Mrs
| Batch has said repeatedly that she be-
! lieved in absolute n-partisanship, but
she has certainly failed to put her belief
into practice in the present instance and
there should be vigorous protest from
suffragists throughout city and state.
The suffragists Of New York State could
| not ask to have their movement in better
| condition politically than at the present
| moment. The conventions Of all the five
parties have put favorable planks in their
platforms, and the five candidates for
Governor are all advocates OF woman suf-
frage. The latter have not declared them
selves at the eleventh hour as a matter
of expediency. but were friends during
the dark and discouraging years.
In the face OF this situation an argyll
ment for non-partisanship seems wholly
superfluous. and any woman who uses her
| influence for one party and against the
others must be set down as making SUI
| frage a secondary Issue and endangering
it's chances for the sake OF some candi-
date. Mr.. Straus put the case In nut
she'll when. referring TO the helplessness
OF an executive by himself. he said:
You must give me Progressive Legis-
lature." II will hardly be claimed that
the majority OF the next Legislature Will
be Of that party; there will be Democrats
GnCial-
lists. When II comes to vote on the
woman suffrage amendment not all the
men in any one OF the first three parties
will consider themselves bound by that
plank in their platform-some OF them
will have other and stronger ties.
II this were not the case the suffragfsts
| would have no need to go to the Legs
lature next winter, since all the parties
, are pledged 10 the amendment, but they
will be far too wise 10 let faith take the
place OF work. The women "antis an
nounce that they also will be at Albany
TO prevent It's submission. and they could
accomplish this only by persuading legis-
lators to be false 10 the promise OF their
party platform. As the "antis" them
selves were at the Republican and Demo-
plank, such action would seem-well, In
consistent TO use the most polite word
possible, but they never have made a
virtue OF consistency. This IL an entirely
new move on their part, but their ex-
PLANTATION Is that the amendment would
be SO badly beaten that the sufrraSists
would give up the fight. Surragists
never give up. In some states they nave
been defeated three times, and are pre-
pairing 10 go before the voters again.
Their chances In New York would be
better II the question we're submitted In
a revised constitution rather than as an
amendment TO the old one.
The constitution as revised In 1884 pro-
yides that beginning with the year 1916,
and every twenty years afterward, and
also at such other times as the Legis-
| lature shall direct, there shall be sub
mltted to the voters OF the state this
question: Shall there be q convention
10 revise the constitution and amend the
same7"
Should the Legislature OF 1914 take this
action, as II doubtless will be urged TO do,
the convention could be elected In lsl5
and submit the revised constitution the
same year. Should this not be done then
! the woman suffrage amendment would
have to be acted upon by the Legislature
of 1913, and by a second Legislature In
1915. It could then 20 to the voters In
the summer or autumn Of that year. The
question would be voted on the same year.
whether submitted by the Legislature or
a constitutional convention. and 1915 Is the
earliest possible date. That time would
be soon enough. however. for a vast
amount OF preliminary work would DO
necessary before II could have any hope
of success. At the present time this state
could not be carried for woman suffrage,
but IL the ratio OF advance during the
last three years can be maintained during
the next three. a victory will not be i'm
possible.
Bosses" Oppose Suffrage.
The strongest factor for success will be
the progressive movement In all parties
| for II Is by no means confined to one. II
was this which gave the franchise to
women in Washington and California, ana
| which will win It in several other states
in November. There ia no hope for 1t In
any state which is under the domination
OF political bosses" for, irrespective OF
marty. there is nothing so thoroughly dis
tasteful TO them az woman suffrage. Inc
reports of the convention at Syracuse said
that. during tho discussion Of this quee-
| ton. Senator Root was clearly bored :