The Washington herald., 1914-12-27
1915 Suffragist Battles IN In States
NO AID FROM CONGRESS AND. COURTS
Women Will Turn To Legislatures

iously reactionary, ~ TO use a polite word.
Erie County, containing Sandusky. with
its large brewing and wine-maktng in
dustries. and Cedar Point a summer re-
sort even wetter than its location on the
lake would indicate, came third. Cleve-
land gave nearly $500 more affirmative
votes than two years ago, but the Home
Rule CBrewcrs) Association had very
active organization in every ward. with
the result of big negative majority. and
this practically was the case in Dayton.
The Ohio River towns are not noted for
high ideals, and there is an immense for
eign-born population in the iron and steel
Industries of the State. 1t is remarkable
that in the face of such conditions the
women have the resolution to begin a
third campaign, but they are planning a
still more thorough organization and will
go TO the voters again either In 1915 or
1876
The women of Missouri already have
S2,009 in hand and actively are at work
arranging to organize carefully every
one of the ia counties and to appeal to
the electors again in 1916. Both OF these
states are entirely independent of the leg
islature, as they have the initiative and
referendum, and the women find there is
no better way Of educating the people
than by going among them with petitions.
Nebraska suffragists have held their
State convention in Omaha and arranged
to maintain their headquarters in Lin
coin and organize the State to its re-
Fiotest corners. Their gu; Jtion cannot go
to the voters again until 1915, when they
expect, without doubt. to win. They will
try to persuade the legislature this winter
to give women the vote for presidential
electors, which could be done constitu-
tionally in this or any other State.
The Oftlcial vote OH the suffrage amend
ment in North Dakota has been an
nounced: Ayes, 40, 2O9; nays 49, ,S4s; lost by
s,lS. This was in fact a preliminary
contest on the submission of a law TO
enfranchise women. which is constitu-
tionsl in that State but demands a prac-
ucally impossible majority. The last
legislature voted also by two to one to
submit an amendment which requires
only majority of all the votes cast on
it, and If this IL ratified by the present
legislature, the women will have a better
chance in 1916. The situation in all of
these States shows how unsupported is
the opinion that the contest for woman
suffrage can be settled permanently in
any way except by granting it.
Encouragement Unknown.
\ generation ago when the cause was
weak and the workers few a defeat so
discouraged them that they subsided for
many years, but that time is past. Now
they rise the next morning and begin a
new campaign, and they will continue to
do this as long as the men OF the various
States consider this the best use the COM
munities can make OF their women, to
keep them year after year eXpending
their time and strength and splendid
powers in the struggle for political lib
erty, instead of using them in construc-
tive for the public welfare.
California women turned out In i'm
mense numbers at the recent election.
and while no separate official statement
has been made, the total vote cast was
96l, ,6I7, as compared to 3S5,s52, at the last
election for governor, when women could
not vote. To make still another compsri-
son, STRESS ballots were cast at the last
election for President, when women could
vote: this advance in two years Of more
than 2SS,00O therefore must be accepted
as proof not only that an increasing num-
Der OF women voted. but also an increas-
ing number of men, which is always the
result of woman suffrage. The news
papers of the State give credit TO the
women for the adoption of the rcd light
Injunction and abatement measure, said
to be the best method yet found for con-
trolling the social evil They also are
credited with the acceptance. of the
which prohibits prize fights
but permits boxing exhibitions OF four
rounds for a trophy not exceeding s35.
PrIEehEhters Ousted.
The Los Angeles Herald prints a COL
umn description of the exodus of the
ring fighters led by Uncle Tom Nc
Carey" I'm going to New Orleans"