The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
STRIKE NOW, CRY
Of SUFFRAGIST
Emily Kershaw Perry. Writes
Of the Duty Of
Women.
NEED STRENUOUS WORK
Best Results to Be Obtained by Ann
ing Blows at Federal. Not State
Constitution.

The work for the 1916 campaign has
already started. Political leaders are
busy laying plans. Democrats the coun-
try over are pondering the results OF the
elections November T. and planning to
prevent their recurrence Republicans
are planning to increase their gains this
fall az the next election. and the Pro-
gressiyes are searching for means 10
strengthen the party in 1916 Socialists
everywhere are taking ADVANTAGE Of the
failure Of imperialism in Europe to drive
home the doctrines Of q truer common
wealth
Are women alone In this vast country
to remain outside the struggle for the
betterment OF world politics? viii they
remain forever content with petiticnIng
Congresses, elected for the most part by
the votes of men. and governed by Do
litical party rule. uninfuenced by even
the ''woman's point OF view?" Not II we
may Judge by indications in the field Of
politics this fall e
Women are realizing more every day
that women cannot obtain Justice with
deputations and petitions alone. Differ
ent methods are necessary. II we are to
be forever content with smooth answers,
indefinite promises and evasive procedure
in Congress. then less positive policies In
today's needs amply. The winning Of ten
more States in the next sixty years viii
satisfy US, for above all things we must
take care not to offend the masculine
view OF feminine gentleness." We must
continue to be negative rather than posi-
tive in the country's game OF politics. In
fact. We ust not NEEDLE with mans
business" but wait patiently for our
rights until the time is ripe. We will
continue working for suffrage State by
State until finally in the dim future our
grandchildren may bring the rest Of the
States into a free America
Warns Against Patience.
Not so. In the past patience has been
necessary. Now in the present conditions
Of world politics too great a patience
may easily prove the effectual barrier to
our aims. II woman suffrage is to cCme
OF its own weight in some distant future,
propaganda meetings. periodic deputations
to Congress, and periodic State cam
paigns are proper. But II woman suf-
frage has been suddenly thrust into the
amphitheater of national and interna-
tiOnal politics as a matter Of the most
vital necessity by the failure Of an ex-
elusive masculine rule; II the crumbling
Of Imperialism in Europe demands women
as well as men to build up the new EN-
pire, then every minute spent In inactive
patience on this side Of the water is
worse than Intellectual II becomes a So
Cial crime.
The Congressional Union fer Woman
Suffrage came into existence in answer
to the demand for more concentrated
work on the constitutional amendment
The women in the Congressional Union do
not belittle the wonderful results obtained
by woman suffragists OF the past. All
honor is paid them as to the pioneers Of
all great movements. The Congressional
Union is only striving faithfully to full
hll the obligations laid upon women of
today by these great leaders Of the past.
The United States is the most favorable
country for the suffrage cause. The
United States Constitution. adopted for
the protection of the rights of all the
citizens of the United States, is the most
prRcaictl weapon We have. Every effort
spent in State work now would be far
more effectuaI used in the united work
for the amending OF one constitution in
stead Of thirty-six.
EMILY KERSHAw PERRY.