The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-10-23
LIQUOR FIGHT TO
OBSCURE SUFFRAGE
Brewers Filed Amendment
Only to EVade Question
Of Political Equality.
ROW OF THEIR SEEKING
President of Ohio Suffragists
Explains Position of Org
anization to Other
Questions.

The desire of the brewers to defeat
equal suffrage was the sole reason
why Ohio has statewide wet and dry
fight on its hands this year. Had not
the women of the state initiated their
measure for political equality, neither
the brewers nor the Anti-Saloon
League would have initiated the con-
stitutional amendments which they
are respectively supporting.
This much misunderstood feature
OF the present campaign is explained
by Harriet Taylor Upton, president of
the Ohio Woman Suffrage associa-
ton.
"In the first place." she says, 'let
me explain that the suffrage associa-
tion is not temperance organization.
1t has no connection whatever with
the Anti-Saloon League. 1t has just
one article of faith, and that is to per-
NIT women to enjoy their long with
held political rights. This is of i'm
menseSy more fundamental importance
than any mere question of policy.
When women vote they will be free
to take sides on the liquor question.
Many of them doubtless will vote dry.
Many others will vote wet. A major
ity of them want the ballot for reasons
entirely apart from the liquor ques-
tion. 1t is a matter of self-respect to
cease to be classed with idiots, Grim
inals and children.
Wanted Cause Fairly Weighed.
"All that we have ever sought has
been fair consideration of our rights
as human beings. Apparently this
has been the one thing that our adver-
saries were not willing we should
have if they could help it, They per-
sistently try to put US in the position
of seeking the ballot for some ulte-
rior motive-as though one should in
quire into the motives of an alien
who asked to be naturalized.
when l speak of our adversaries,
/ mean the brewers, for they have fur
nished the money, the workers and
the political pull that has been ar
rayed against us. The so-called anti !
suffragists In Ohio do not count, ex-
cept as a very thin mask for the
brewers campaign.
This fight has been of their seek
ing, not ours. Evidently they have
something on their consciences which /
makes them fear political power in
the hands of women. Just why this
should be, cannot prove from past
suffrage experience.
I'VE hoped for clear field this
year to test sentiment on political
equality. There seemed fair chance
to avoid wet and dry fight, for the
state had new license law which was
supposed to please the vets and even
the drys we're expected to await test
of its workings before launching an
attack. We are assured by persons
in touch with both the wet and dry
organizations that this was the situa-
tion until 1t became apparent that the
women would have signatures enough
to initiate suffrage amendment. II
Sought to Round Up Vote.
"The brewers then saw that If they
we're to defeat suffrage they must
take some steps to have their own
contingent at the polls and to infiame
them with the belief that their per-
sonal liberty was assailed To do this, |
It was necessary to initiate some kind
Of proposal. The so-called home I
rule amendment was hastily drawn I'D