The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-04-03
WHY WOMEN SHOULD BE So
CIALSTS.
lBv 4. w. billiard. J


cnc of the Fundamental principles OF
Socialism. o. course. since the issue
became OF real Importance some other
political parties have begun to agi-
tate it. but this is only done in order
10 catch votes. and not because these
parties really believe that women have
the same rights as men.
Look at the Roosevelt party, for in
stance. When he was president he
brutally told a committee Of sutfra-
grttes who waited upon him, that
home was the place for women and
that they should hot DC allowed to
take part in politics. Now, no doubt.
he would like very much for them to
forget his ancient attitude, for after
the women Of several Western states
had through their own efforts, and
over the opposition Of such men as
Roosevelt, won the right to vote, this
perpetual candidate endorses woman
suffrage, in the hope of corralling
their votes. With the old politicians
its anything to get votes.
The Socialist party was fighting for
woman suffrage when it was an UNI
popular proposition, and before there
were any women voters; it was fight
ing for it not because it wanted, in
particular, the votes Of the women,
but because they nkcw it was but
Justice. There arc many reasons why
women should be Socialists. First,
because Socialism will establish poll
tical and economic justice and equali-
~. Did you ever stop to think why
women are only paid about one-half
rs much as men, for doing the same
amount Of work? We. the Socialists,
tell you that the principal reason for
this inequality in pay is because the
men have the power OF the ballot and
the women have not. and they there
fore do not exercise so great an in
iluencc in making our laws rs do
men. They are Disseminated against
on the economic field because they
have no recourse oil the political!
field. Some of the old-IinerS will say
that women do not understand poll
tics; VIC reply to this by saying, give
them the ballot and they will make it
their business 10 understand politics.
II this was really an objection worth
considering why don't these fellows
who use it as an argument against
woman suffrage, use it also against
men who do not understand politics?
In Ill fields Of cndcavor where cduca-
ton is factor of success women
have demonstrated their ability TO
hold their own with men, and there l.
no reason to believe that she would be
less efficient in the realf Of politics.
Now 4 word as to what we mean by
politics: Ii politics meant the same
to us as il does to the Avcramc demo-
crat or republican, then "t, too,
would advise women to stay 0Ut Of it
But when we advocate tic entrance
Of women into politics We 90 not
mean simply hanging aro"nl nc
polls on election day. or passing the
green goods" to the voters who ''un-
derstand politics" We mean that
they should become students of til"
science of government. DO LOU know
that in the United States r. America
there are about 100000 gi'',.; md
women working for wages the G~rat
majority Of whom receive fer tiicir
services less than 50 per week. A.
cording to report made by u. T..
Hammond, member of the State ln'ius
trial Commission Of Ohio, after atudy-
ing the wage records Of 1874 girls
employed in |, 1856 mercantile cStab-
lishmcnts, that from 81 to S. !: he
wage paid girls under IS years OF
age, while those over IS receive only
from Sc to IS; and, again, it will be
remembered that during tho SLaate
investigation Of the white slave traffic
in Chicago. that one Mr.. Roc invalid,
lhead of the lrm Of Seas. IUrhuSk
& Co.. stated that the girls IN ;huir