The Washington herald., 1913-03-26
BLASTING regulations
is A COWARDLY THING
Ry FRANCES sHAFFER.

| Gracious,
II women were in politics, I wonder
what they would do when they were
| made victims of investigations of a
class with some that are ordered to-
day.
You know. as little girls. they never
were brought up" TO play that way. and
l honestly believe-well. 1t is scarcely
safe to say what might happen II a lot
OF women, whenever they wanted a posi-
ton or something else in possession OF
another. just got together in organized
legalized committees and pulled and
tugged and fought and investigated until
they tore regulations into shreds, and
then noisily put the holders out. without
once having found a real thing against
them.
Yet that is what is often done in the
big game of politics.
OF course. the aggressors. never would
admit it. Indeed. no: they are much too
astute for that. They declare there Is
something wrong in the administration
of affairs, something that must be set
Alright: and they gravely. and very ex-
ltravangantly. go about their work, with
fine protestations of honest purpose on
their lips. but with a murderous. dagger
up their sleeves, and something worse in
their hearts. 1t is all for the good of
the service" they say; but many mere
women are perfectly sure there is
great big ''I'' in the service.
Reason Is Obvious.
These women. just sitting by and quiet
y looking on, count it a very grievous
thing TO blast 4 mans reputation for the
paltry sake of an office or other advant-
age he holds: and they say to them
selves. and perhaps to each other, that
they never could and never would en-
dure that sort OF thing.
Because, you see, it is so very trans
parent that most of the investigations"
cover j multitude of other things-per-
sonal ambitions. political gain. the trans
ference of power and a few more i'm
portant items.
And the mans reputation? Why. that
does not bother them at all.
Ley say, these women who are look
ing on. that they would be game TO
the last; that If they or their friends
held Office and We're guilty of wrong
doing in one way or another. they would
set their lips and square their shoulders
for any kind of investigation that might
he forthcoming. But as for standing for
the horrible method of being ruthlessly
fired at without the Justification OF guilt
that would not be the way of women.
For they count 1t a mighty unfair
manner of playing a big game.
Not Worth the Candle.
And there are few other things in
politics that they do not admire over
much. They think that. in campaigns
that are nationwide or those that are
local. it is nothing short of disgraceful
TO descend to the horrors of mud-throw-
ing and 10 drop into the wretched per-
sonalities that have dlsfigured many an
important Campaign.
yhay 70 laaS 60
that is what they ought To say-that II
they would not be calm. dispassionate,
Unconditional and the Ike. then they
would not be So very pleased or proud
to find themselves sitting in the high
seats o. the mighty in government.
For If they must contend in that way
for an office, the game scarcely would
be worth the candle.
But tie fact is. you know. that is not
the way women proceed in the struggle
for ascendency in their hig clubs.
II is Madam President this, if YOU
please. and Madame Secretary that. II
you will listen 10 hear il: and their cam
paigns are fragrant with the odor Of vio-
lets and roses. Each is perfectly sure
that the other would make a quite
charming leader if she CHANGED to be
elected and everything is smooth and
harmonious.
-.Iu Trey are particularly cdrefNl TO
make sure that there shall be nothing
more in evidence than the friendliest
kind OF competition.
And as to trumping UP a lot of silly
charges that have no basis in truth. as
to tearing into fragments a reputation
that had known no mark against II
and as to removing an entirely capable
president, for the selfish sake of letting
some one else slip in-that has never been
their way
And here's hoping it never may be