The Washington herald., 1914-07-05

leaders of the movement were forced TO
recognize the fact that there was little
hope of Congressional action until a con-
siderable number of States had first
granted the suffrage to women. and so
the long series of campaigns for
this purpose have continued, without
ceasing for over forty years" Ubid).
To busy statesman who has not the
time to examine all the data, the fact
that nine States already have woman
suffrage may seem an omen Of its inevi-
liability throughout our land within a few
years But the suffragists-though they
don't boast of it in their literature-knOw
that votes for women has never been
a popular demand. and that II has taken
strenuous efforts extending over two
generations TO get the franchise in these
nine States that are only equal in popu-
lation to the State of Pennsylvania plus
the city of Hoboken. Moreover, in every
one of these States, numerous defeats
were met with, and the victorious mar
gins have been SO narrow, even when
most of the voters were indifferent that
the task Of getting woman suffrage in all
the States in this manner is practically
hopeless
The Facts AbOat Recent Campaigns
True, within the last five years, Kan
sas, California, Oregon, Washington, and
Arizona were added to the equal suffrage
ranks, but one must consider the fact
that the total majority in all these states
was only 800 votes; to which California,
with an electorate of S9O.794. contributed
the insignificant plurality of S,2i votes
while $4,000 indifferent male voters
STAYED home! For all that, a majority
of one is as good as a majority of l,OH.Up
if you win-but it is no aid TO optimism
in future campaigns. In Michigan, un-
der the same conditions of indifference
on the part of the voters as obtained N
California, the suffrage amendment was
defeated by a majority OF only 100 votes.
The people of Michigan were aroused.
II had been thought that the general
indifference would prevent woman suf-
frage but its near passage at the Novem-
Der election showed the public that IL
they did not believe in feminizing their
State government. organized opposition
was necessary. The women formed an
anti-suffraEe association, and after an
educational campaign OF only -FOUR
months, the amendment was submitted
to the people again the following April.
The suffrage hopes were high-until the
election returns showed that votes Tor
women had been swamped by plurality
Of %. IA votes-more than a hundred times
the former majority. and twice the as-
California, Oregon, Kansas, Washington,
and Arizona, though these five States
have almost three times Michigan's popu-
Iation! In Wisconsin and Ohio, too, the
measure was heavily defeated at the
polls by a majority Of l7s, ,0O0 To every
one who holds that women should look
TO the States for their suffrage, says
Mrs Ida Hustled Harper, "is recommend
ed a study of those campaigns"
No one outside the suffrage ranks fully
realizes the odds against its success
through State action. When one con-
siders that there are 115,s45 more women
over twenty-one in the single State
Of Pennsylvania than in the entire nine
equal suffrage States, and that the 4.OOO,-
900 women who vote now"-in suffrage
pamphlets-have to be prestigiated from
an actual l,9eS,163 enfranchised in all
these States, Mr.. Clark's assurances are
not encourag gin. Then, too, of this near
" 100000 women enfranchised in nine
States, less than q per cent have ever
been persuaded to use the almighty bal
lot thrust upon them by their politically
inclined sisters. In fact, at the Presl-
Dental election in 1912. the enfranchised
women were SO indifferent to their polit-
ical duties, and encouraged so much in
difference among the men, that six suf-
frage States with male and female
electorate Of 3.9O0,152 cast only 1,521, $50
votes. or q per cent, while six neigh
boring States. with male electorate of
Las, lis, cast 1,5S7,9s4 votes, or 81 per cent.
Presidential election is undoubtedly
the least indifferent election held. and
when one reflects that California, Colo
rado, wyoming, Washington. idaho andl