The Washington times., 1914-01-29
"REBELLION WILL GET VOTES FOR WOMEN" SAYS BEARD
A Demonstration Like DORIS
Likely 10 Bring Wanted
Power, He Thinks.
By EDITH LOBERT.
E,TF the constitutional amendment


for woman suffrage fails next
year. 1 fully believe a universal
demonstration on the lines of DORIS
rebellion would win
Such is the prophecy of Prof. Charles
Beard, who is in charge of the depart
ment of politics at Columbia University
New York. incidentally, his wife is a
member of the executive committee of
the Congressional Union whose live
wire policies have evoked controversy
in some of the conservative suffrage
ranks.
Prof. Boards prediction. which is not
altogether supported By Washington
suffragists, came in the course of a lee
JUre to the Woman's Political Union
recently in which he told how certain
embattled bankers. merchants, and
lawyers of Rhode Island whom the vote
from a recalcitrant government by
seizing upon that government. This in
Cident is known in American history as
DORIS rebellion. However, Miss Doris
Stevens, of the legislation department
of the Congressional Union agreed with
him that such tactics will be unneces-
sary.
Il really doubt If such a demonstra-
ton Will ever take place" said Prof
Beard. In DORIS rebellion there was
no actual blOodshed.
Set Up State of Their Own.
The disenfranchised men who had
vainly petitioned for the vote for so
many years set up a state of their own
in 1872 They elected a governor and
legislators and marched upon the State
capital with a cannon left over from
the Revolution.
However, the cannon wouldn't go
off. and Dorr himself was arrested and
kept in Jail for a time. The vote was
given TO his followers because of the
tremendous public opinion their actions
had aroused. The legislators simply
didn't dare resist it any longer Nor
would they resist the women in a like
situation. .-.-
But I do not think it at all neces-
sary to adopt such tactics. Recently
the men of New York, and, indeed, all
over America, have shown a remark
able willingness to accede to the wishes
of women. The three leading political
parties, Democratic, Republican, and
Progressive, seem TO be almost racing
with one another to see which shall
be the first to give women the ballot.
1T only remains for the women to
be content with arguing. For several
decades they have been telling the men
that their stockings will be darned and
their dinner cooked Just the same after
the women are allowed to vote.
Something New To Do.
'-The campaign of education is inn
portant, and it has been conducted well.
But now there's something else to do.
The women need make no hampering
pledges always to support that party
which eHfranchises them. But let them
make it clear that they will work
against all the candidates, everywhere,
of She' party or parties which take up
a stand against woman suffrage.
Modern battles are won by brains,
not brawn. SO il is not a question OF
mere brute strength at an liz.
While not sharing Prof. Beard Dellet
that such a demonstration might prove
effective Washington members OF the
Congressional Union heartily indorse his
views upon making the matter one OF
What do YOU think of his theory" 1
asked Miss Stevens.
She hesitated a moment, thought
fully.
Prof Beard she began. Il consider
him one of our foremost scholars n
political history, but ] do not share IN
his belief that the history of woman
similar to that Of DORIS rebellion. We
will get nationwide votes for women
without anything so picturesque or
spectacular as the males Of Rhode Is
land resorted to I'm 1872. You see ourI
situation is quite different
Wasteful and Inconceivable.
1T would be both wastefUI and incon-
ceivabIe that We should attempt to set
up a government Of our own-that is.
elect lawmakers in an unconstitutional
way. We are at the present moment
making the adoption OF woman suffrage
politically eXpedient TO every party.
1T is idle 10 hOpe-and, besides, II
would take too long-that men as indi-
viduals will ever give US the vote from
universal sense OF justice or from
supreme virtue.
They Will give it to us only when
il becomes politically eNpedient, and
therefore necessary. And if woman suf-
frage is not politically eXpedient in ma
tionaI politics today. II is up to the
Vote-seekers to make it SC. We must
take the same avenue through which all
legislation is directed-we must appeal
10 any party which for the moment can
give US what we want. What could lie
more non-partisan than that?
Use Political Power.
And how can we do this? BY using
the political power which women al
States. Statesmen and pseudo-states-
men. politicians. and aspirants are not
concerned with the fears and excessive
caution Of timid women: what they 90
understand is a demonstration 2f power.
and the oftener such demonstration can
be made the better for our cause.
Isn't it fact that men understand
these tactics2'' / Queried, and that Il
oniv remains for women to see the
sagaCitv in such precedure?'
Miss Stevens smiled non-commlttallE
and went on talking-about silent reyo-
lutions.' The Congressional Union
viii fight for woman suffrage On the
basis Of politics" she said, which hadn't
anything TO do with my question what
ever. ] tried again. 1T would De
rather uEfiatterinE to the men. wouldn't
il, TO have the women Of the country Ie-
sort to such extreme measures in max
ing 4 perfectly reasonable demand?'' 1
Again came the same ''inscrutable
smile which riYaled Mona LIsa's. we
have but one aim always in View--a
NATIONAL amendment enfranchising all
women"
And 1 defy all comers to challenge
that answer for diplomacy.
AnnIUinO Far1U