The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27
THE OPEN FORUM


%, Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge scores society
being society woman" naturally sees
and knows much of what is going on in
high society,", She enumerates many
of the evils, but gives no remedy for
the cure.
Mrs. Dodge must remember that degen-
eracy does not spring up like mushroom
in the night, but is handed down from one
generation to another until it becomes a
living fact.
Twenty-Five years ago society dressed
in a respectable way and danced decent
dances; fifteen years ago there was re-
spectability in dress and dancing; five
years ago there was a marked change,
and today tells what we may expect five
years hence.
Mrs. Dodge knows full well it is not the
working woman nor the working man
that sets the pace for dress and dance.
1t is the man and woman who has moth
ing to do-perhaps fad for the mo-
ment, but only for the moment-real,
earnest work is never considered.
Society means wealth, wealth means
opportunity, opportunity means the road
to education. cultivationS charity work,
the up-lift of those less fortunate, and a
helping hand to those who We meet daily.
A few years ago the clergy were preach
ing against the evils of bridge whist, but
We hear nothing on those evils today.
Bridge whist and the gambling instincts
that it develops are lost in the turkey
trot bunny-hug, and tango. Gambling
instincts are bad enough, but not so de-
generating as the above dances. Thou
sands of people dance who never play
cards.
Mrs. Dodge thinks women should stay
at home and look after the womanly
virtues, and yet Mrs. Dodge is in Wash
ington as the president OF the Anti
Suffrage National Association to appeal
to Congress not to give the ballot to
women, for they do not want it. Who
does not want it? Society women
Thousands of women have the ballot.
and millions of women want II. 1t is
the only solution to the present-day evil
II responsibilities rest with women, then
women must be citizens and part of the
people II women are co-workers, they
ara entitled to their full share of guam
tity and quality. which can only be
Justly given through political equality.
Never having known any other ideas on
the subject l am not a convert, but
votes for women through inheritance.
cannot see the calamity that is to fol-
low by casting ballot, which takes
about two or three minutes to accom-
plish. ii being understood that the one
casting the ballot is of ordinary intelli-
gence, and knows whom she is voting
for. | do not doubt that there are
women, and perhaps men, who would not
know a ballot from shopping card.
Mrs Dodge says there is something
wrong with the women of the present
time. That is true That wrong has
existed ever since 177S The progress OF
the times has discovered it, and they
are going to right it, Some of the
Western States discovered il when they
asked for Statehood. They discovered
that the ballot was not one-sided ar
fair. but one that should be co-operated
In. Just as much so as the cooperation
of the father and mother in rearing the
family The "brOw-beaten' wife is to
he pitied just as much as the hen
pecked' husband. Neither state should
exist The cooperation of the father and
mother naturally brings about the best
government in the household. The ma
tonal government is only big family.
All should be governed alike, each hav-
ing an equal share in the responsibilities
and privileges Of the government.
| would have il taught in the schools.
Children should realize that they are
to be a part in the forming of the gov
eminent under which they live, should
hold it as sacred as the home. and then,
and not until then. will we have a full
and free democratic government.
Mrs Dodge says: Men and the laws
should take care OF the white slave traf-
fic." Men and the laws have been TAX
ing care Of the white slave traffic for
many years, and the traffic has prospered
until il might be called a trust and it
will continue TO prosper to the sorrow
and shame of womanhood. Why? Men
vote for men, and up TO the present
time few of the right kind of men have
been elected to fill the offices that might
reduce the white slave traffic. There are
plenty of men, good clean. honest men
for these offices, but they have no chance
in the caucus, their presence IS not
wanted, the nomination goes TO the man
that will not disturb the vice of his city,
he is elected with big majority. The IL
quor question is another problem the
men do not want the women to vote on,
and it is the liquor interests that de-
feated the suffrage cause in Michigan,
Wisconsin, and Ohio in fact all States
where the vote has come up. / notice
Mrs. Dodge does not mention liquor In
her enumeration of evils, and liquor is
the foundation of nine-tenths of all
crimes committed, it is the greatest de-
generator the world has ever known.
We want the ballot, and not until it is
universal will we lay down our ambition.
No one or any just cause should be con-
demned until given fair trial.
ST. CLAIR JENNINGS.
On addition to the above the writer
quotes opinions of some prominent men
to the extent of a column or so, which
is too long to reproduce.-EdD