The Washington times., 1913-08-11
SUFFRAGE VICTORY
SOON, SAYS RAKER
Congressman Believes That
National Success Is Likely
Within Two Years.

When delegates from the Nations
Council OF Women Voters come befor,
the House Rules Committee at the Cant.
toi next Wednesday morning. to show
the necessity of having a separate com.
mittee on suffrage in the House Of Rep.
resentatives. such as has been granted
them by the Senate, they will find in
Congressman John E. Raker of Cali.
fornia, one Of their most stanch sun
porters.
Mr.. Raker probably will be chosen "a
present to the committee the appIica-
ton OF the women, which Is likely to re-
suit In their having a separate COM
mittee in the House, to which all oues-
ttons regarding equal suffrage in the
United States shall be referred
Congressman Raker believes IN z,,-
frage for women equal with men. for
the very pest OF reasons: he has seen
IL In active operation and knows from
experience just what the movement has
fornia. VI or
Discussing the forthcoming hearing AZ
the Capitol next Thursday, Mr. Rsker
SAID, feel that this matter of amend
ing the rules, so that woman suffrage
questions shall be assigned a speciaI
committee is a recognition that ought
10 De granted the women on account of
the Importance of the subject"
Progress in California.
He then told the writer of the prog
ress that had been made in his own
state by the women who voted for the
first time in the fall of 1911, Desnite
the assertions of the ants. who declare
that after having procured the fran
chise, more than half the women he
come lukewarm and do not take ad-
vantage OF the privilege of voting, Mr.
Raker declared that in the spring cleo
tons OF 1912 there was noticeable in
crease in the number of women who
cast their votes. The same experience
followed at the Presidential primaries
and women also voted in large numbers
for candidates for the nominating con-
venuon in August. and In the general
election last November.
There is nothing in that statement
made by the antis." Mr.. Raker de-
cisred. The women in my State were
the earliest to vote, and of those who
registered, a larger percentage of
women voted than Of the men. AS far
as any talk OF lethargy of women Is
concerned, there is nothing in it. It is
all imagination. One of the things that
was noticeable in the elections In
which women voted was the order that
was maintained about the booths and
polling places
The boards had provided in advance
LOT tne women voters. and had pro-
cured better booths and polling places
,r Inan had been the rule in the past
MS Improvement alone shows that the
iranChlSe mad accomplished something.
oeHeVe suffrage has come to stay
eo colItlhueo Mr.. Raker. Not only has it
come TO stay. but it is comins, right
along. Those who haven't had il vii
nave 1t within a very short time-tyo
years at the latest. I cannot see anv
reasona Bile reason why one-half the in
teligence and ability in our Country
should be wasted by deprivinR women
of the ballot. The girls and young
women in our schools and colleges have
been educated in political economy, civ,
government, and kindred lines. and
since they are taught these things and
since they undoubtedly have intelligen- e
enough to run the Government, should |
he occasion arise. why should they be !
deprived Of the ballot?''
Vote and Go Home.
Then Mr.. Raker told me how the |
women conducted themselves at The !
elections in his State. They go to the !
ools and vote; then they 90 home and |
attend 10 their household duties. They |
IRE no better or no worse for their expe- |
'ience. II is Ike going shopping after |
,reakfsst to the most OF them. Just as |