The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-01-24

o,,arnment as mans affair and some
..,,g which concerns itself with
elections and alarms, they have be-
.oua so confused in regard to their
traditional business in life, the rear
inc of children that, they hear with
oomplacency a statement that IL of
tho tiny lives that make up the city's
death rate each year, might be saved
nv a more thorough application of san
.arv science. Because it implies the
mac NJ suffrage, they do not consider
\ woman's business to save these
lives"
clifford Howard. a California pro-
orassiye. declares that men cannot
Leen house without women.
eve need the aid of intuitive minds
accustomed to detail and variety of
work and above all to a sense of re-
sponsibility for the comfort and wei.
fare OF others.
The home in its wider sense is the
town or city-and the nursery is the
nublic school. Both the home and
the nursery need mother-woman.
And as our forefarthers gave her in
troublous days the most efficient
weapon at their command the mus
ket-so we today must give her the
best within our gift-in order that
she may be fully equipped to stand
with us in our mutual struggle in be-
half of the nation and the home"
Although we live in the conserva-
tive south we may do much to hasten
the day, especially through our
woman's clubs. To be sure, the gen
eral federation, which met in San
Francisco last June did not endorse
equal suffrage as a body but the in
fuence of 100000 individual club
women, the most powerful women
in their communities socially, intel
leCtually and morally, is already do
ing vast social good. AS Sarah Platt
Decker. president of the federation,
said in 1904. Dante is dead. ladies'.
He died several centuries ago and a
great many things have happened
since his time"
Let us, too, realize that Dante is
dead and concentrate upon our own
social order
In the sweltering weather of last
June under the most adverse condi-
tons, the Florida Equal Franchise
League was born in Jacksonville. A
few OF US in the neighborhood met
next door 70 consider the matter of
Sunday closing of city meat markets.
Quite accidentally it was discovered
that most of those present were ard
ent suffragists. 1t was agreed to
organize and in calling up those of
the club women who had not left
home for the summer, We met with
a surprisingly enthusiastic response.
The initial meeting was we'll attend
ed and at the following meeting held
az the Y. W. c. A. over a hundred
and fifty women attended There are
about forty charter members enrolled
In Jacksonville and many supporters
scattered over the state. From the
beginning. the press was exceeding
friendly and at every meeting promi-
rent men spoke in favor of the move
ment.
Now We have the greatest conf
dence In Ocala. You have had one
inestimable advantage in your club
lie here. Your close association
Nith Mrs. Hooker. now our state pres
dent who is always in the vanguard
oi sane progress. In a Letter to me
last summer she got somehow in a
iew brief words at the very core of
TIE problem How much more dig
nihed. she wrote for women to cast
Per ballot quietly for what she knows
Y be right than 70 be forever cajol-
ms boards and councils even though
NE latter may be considered more
adylike
And why, I wonder. is it considered
p Womauly and entirely commend
apie when we aid an ISOLATED case
'aopi a poor factory child and send
im 20 school and why SO unfemi-
ae when We try 20 improve the con
lHloa OF aii factory children, babies
imost working in the canneries OF
West Florida amid conditions that
ave excited the horror OF darkest
New York even. and what have we
Bone about ite
iou are mistaken If YOU think that
one natural force In the course of
uman events is going 10 rescue these
VIE children from toll that stunts
'lem morally and intellectually and
'etuaily rots their hands away They