The Washington herald., 1914-08-02

same laws as those that govern men
taxpayers; they are not taxed more
heavily than men, nor than the voteless
minors. corporations, foreigners, and es-
tates which also pay taxes Their
| grounds. Of complaint are identical: and
the med grumble as much over the tax
laws as'the women do.
II votes could solve the problem. men
would have found the solution years ago.
Women taxpayers would not gain any
thing, but they want to talk about it. to
feel that they have a right to express
themselves. Their votes would double
the clamor. while the result would be the
same, except that taxes would be higher
IL two ballots were printed. two votes
registered. challenged. counted. etc.
where one would be sufficient.
Purifying Politics.
tribute toward clean politics? Until poll
tics the game claims the best and strong
est women-women as reformers at the
polls will be Ciphers-and we know that
the game Of politics will never claim the
best and strongest women. II is doubtful
II II has ever claimed the best and
strongest men! The remedy is, l repeat,
better men as candidates for office. That
means bringing men as NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
best and strongest" men that politics
need-to a sense Of civic responsibility
Shall this be done by direct persuasion
from the reform element, or shall women
calmly absolve men from their duties and
responsibilities and take UP their neglect
ed burdens, by competition at the polls?
Can good and inexperienced women figure
as reform politicians when good men
cannot rise universally before campaigns
and effect startling reforms by appoint
ing worthy candidates?
Helpless as a voter. does not the gnJd
male reformer turn to press, pulpit and
public opiniOn-whose conscience is
woman-for aid in getting a mere chance
to vote for honest Representatives?
Suffragists expect their poor little insig-
nifcant ballots, for which they would
sacrifice their nonpartisan power as
women, to exert an hypnotic influence
over the morals of a strange male can
didate, when they neglect their first duty
of starting reforms by influencing the
men they know and love in their own
homes. They would rather make a guess
in the election booth about a candidate
whose character they can in no wise ade-
quately judge than create better candi-
dates by inspiring more honor, honesty
and ideals IN their husbands. brothers
and children. To persuade, to morallze at
the top of ones voice Is already permit
ted women-it Is independent of the Yot-
ing privilege.
But what kind of woman harangues
public men in America or abroad? Is
she a model for your daughter? Does she
inspire or convince as. many men on the
street, as you know that you can inIlJ-
ence in your own parlor? What should
we gain at the polls by adding confusion
to the confusion already existing7
No Results Seen.
Unless the suffragists can prove that
their experiment has brought about rem
edies for existing ills their argument is
futile; unless they show that woman
suffrage Is permanently uplifting to the
State" they have fallen short. Shall we
vote merely for the sake of voting?
What have votes" done for womenl
in suffrage States? Colorado has had
woman suffrage for twenty-one years.
long enough to let US know IL it is worth
while. Colorado not only holds the rec
ord for anarchy and lawlessness. the Sec
ond place among States in divorces, the
highest per capita public debt, while its
expenditures for education have stood
stationary while the rest Of the country
doubled such expenses-but 1t has done
nothing for women.
Mrs. Francis W. Goddard, president Of
the Colonial Danes Of Colorado, wrote
this letter: ''I have voted since 1893 III
have been a delegate TO the State and |
city Conventions and a member Of the
Republican State committee from myI
county. / have been a deputy sheriff /
and watcher at the polls. For twenty
three years / have been In the midst Of |
the woman suffrage movement in Colo
rado. For years / believed in woman
suffrage and worked day in and day out
for IL I now see my mistake and would
abolish IL tomorrow II I could. No law