The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-05-10
A DOUBTFUL RECRUIT.


Whether Theodore Roosevelt will prove an acquisi-
ton worth having TO the woman suffrage movement
is highly problematcal. Women have yet had little
experience this side Of the wies of the politician,
and in the natural events bound have
the experience their English sisters And
if there is thing than another that Theodore
Is past master OF, it is the art and craft of the
politician.
His conversion to the cause Of woman suffrage has
been long drawn out tedious and cautious process
exhibiting little of that impusiveness popularity
deemed of his strongest characteristics. When
he President his publicly expressed views about
women in general did not apparently go much beyond
considering her principal qualifications of
bearer of children. Her duty was to have children
and still more children, to Offset what he dubbed race
suicide and any woman who fulfilled this duty
apparently lacked little else in his estimation
SO fixed was this idea that it became sort of
commonplace remark of woman who had borne
many children that her activity in this respect should
draw forth enconiums from Roosevelt. His fellow
autocrat the Kaiser, wont declare that women
had three duties, "Krche, Kuchen und Kinder
church, kitchen and children made up her life
Theodore didn't insist on the first two but he
strong the third.
At that time the idea votes for women found
IN MIN an enemy on the whole. He had laid out the
whole duty of woman and that she should want any,
thing more was sort of lese majestic to him.
Consequently, We find him four years ago declaring
himself "tepid' woman suffrage. But then he had
no nxed idea OF running again for the Presidency
Later, when few States had adopted it, and he
was thinking of succeeding Taft the politician in the
man woke up and he backed and filed on the question:
not daring to commit himself
Invited to head the last great woman suffrage
parade ne cautiously absented himself without excuse
or explanation Then, when assured the movement
was growing. he authorized a woman suffrage nlank
IN the Bull Moose platform. And, finally, the other
day he landed with both feet squarey in the midst
OF the suragst camp, his address being practically
relteration of the usual series of orthodox argu-
ments for woman suffrage
1t may seem somewhat strange that an alleged
master mind like that of Roosevelt could evolve MOTH
Ing original on the subject suspicious people
1t might seem if he had not devoted any portion
OF MS gigantic intellect to the question: but possibly
the ladies' overjoyed at securing such distinguished
recruit are inclined to be perhaps somewhat more
gu1eless and trustful than usual
No doubt they will support him Loyalty throuRhout
MS pohtcal career and the financial aid they can
1u9rn1sn is by no means to be despised. Just now
"hen nasty stories of former political contributions
such as that $4,000 from Melen, of the New Haven
Rallroad are rife, it is time look around for cash
from other and cleaner sources and woman suffrage
movement could easily contribute considerable where
~hal in the future, to which the slightest faint
coulo attach At any rate Theodore stands to lose
nothing and gain much by his new alliance Al for
the women, how they will fare is matter which
remains to be Knowing the politician breed
"hae doots."