The Washington herald., 1913-08-27
BAN ON SUFFRAGE
IS BEING LIFTED
Narrow and Unfair Not to Keep Read
ers Informed on Activities
of Women.
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.

In Harper's Weekly a week or Sc
ago an article was written by a woman
essayist who was retiring from that
periodical after ten years of service. In
her closing words to the readers who
had followed her thoughts during that
long period she said there was one
subject which she had had deeply al
heart but to which she had been Obliged
to bear the reproach of being Indifferent
because it came under the editorial ban.
And that she wrote, ''is the question OF
what is perhaps the greatest revolution
that civilization has ever seen; the
revolution which is slowly but surely
bringing about the. ultimate emancipa-
tion of woman"
In retiring. the editorial management
permitted her briefly to sing her swans
song, and as some of the readers fol-
lowed it they wondered why it is that
in spite of the publicity in some direc-
tions that will not permit a word of
woman suffrage in their columns. I'M
less it happens to be a very bad, in
tolerant word. Then it may slip through
without a hint of objection or a blue
pencil anywhere near it.
One naturally would answer, because
they do not believe in it. because they
think it detrimental to the interests of
the world of men and women, far too
costly toy TO consider at ALL
Cannot Be the Reason.
But that cannot be the reason, because
they cannot possibly believe all they
print. There's the great question of
politics A newspaper may live one side
believe in il and exploit it from every
possible angle. but it also deals with
the opposition, tells what IT is doing
shows its ups and downs, reverts to its
big figures, and denounces its issues.
But it does not set it aside because II
is a matter OF news of exceeding interest
10 a large number of readers. And, then.
100, it is so big and tolerant, so en-
trenched in its own notions of what's
right and fitting, that it prides itself
upon presenting both sides. even occa-
sionalIy showing up the good in the
enemy.
And so with other things When any
thing new comes along that enllsts the
interest and the work of a goodly por-
ton of humanity, the newspapers and
magazines are in a mighty rush TO Sc
cure the first details. They may be
miles away from approving of 1t, may
think il quite absurd, but if they be-
heve their readers want to hear and
kno wabOut it, that it is the supreme
question, and they run the story, with
an eye single to their public and what it
wants.
For it is part of their working creed
TO print the news and serve their read
ers with matters that interest them.
Know Folk Are Interested.
Now. there are great many publi-
cations, East, West, North, and South,
that believe woman suffrage is one Of
the worst germs that possibly could OBJ
trude its unwelcome self upon a peace
full nation. Some of them frankly say
so and are not a bit hesitant to come
out in flaming cOlors against the PROPOSE
tiOn to include women in the electorate
of the country. Yet they know that
among their readers there are many
who believe in it, heart and soul, who |
work for it early and late and are in |
terested in the last scrap of information |
that comes from one State or another. |
And so they print the news, occasion |
ally even open their columns to an ex- /
preston Of opinion from an outsider. |
because they know that right the day |
must win," and if they are in the right |
it cannot do any harm to present the |
other side.
Others see in it the possibility of better |
government for all, since all will have a |
share, and of course they exploit the |
suffrage story, Doth as matter OF |
opinion and of news.
Still others are tolerant, willing to |
let il come or go on its own merits, |
and they, too. print the news.
But there are many publications, pro-
fessedly broad, tolerant and open to con-
victiOn, that religiOusly consign to vol
luminous waste-paper baskets anything |
that tells a woman suffrage story. 1t
may come all the way from New Zea-
land, from England, or from some little
port where they are just waking up,
but if it bears the suffrage tag, away
it goes to the land of oblivion.
Many Are Lifting the Ban.
Are they afraid, or what is it?
Because the fact remains, whether they
approve or not that many of their read
ers want to know what is going on in the
field of suffrage activities, and the time
has come when it has a look of unpro-
Eressiveness, or something strange. to
continue to bar out matters which chal-
lenge the interest of a large class of
readers.
For it must be remembered that while
many publications have opened their col
umns to meet new demands and new
conditions, there are others which stand
today just where they stood fifty years
the dead line Of silence
They know that among their readers
there is the usual division for and against.
and that all who care one way or an
other would like to read what is happen
ing. Yet not a line creeps in, and it never
will until a great light arouses them from
a long dream of peace when there is no
peace"
And 1 wonder If there ever was a single
Interest in which large numbers were
that met such stubborn re-
and such continued silence as
did the woman suffrage question until
recent years.
For there are many publications that
have lifted the ban.
A Good Egg Basket.