The Washington herald., 1914-07-26

methods in vogue In America may lead
to the adoption OF actual militancy here.
Even though the National Suffrage Asso-
citation does not indorse militancy, 1t Is
absolutely powerless to prevent the Con-
women so inclined, from starting Pank-
hurst methods here.
Not only that, but the National suf-
fraEe Association itself seeks and ac-
cepts the support of socialists and feml-
nists. With more or less secrecy, and
| beating around the bush," II rans
| standing advertisements in revolutionary
socialist magazines under the title OF
| the National Woman Suffrage Publish
ing Company, Inc.," and prints and dis
tributes books by Mrs. Pankhurst, Max
J Eastman, Charlotte Perkins Gilman. and
other radicals. OF course, the readers of
] the conservative newspapers who see the
statements condemning militancy can
be depended upon not TO read the red"
magazines conducted by I. w. W. de-
tenders, in which the National Associa-
] tion boldly appeals to socialists. Thus
the National Suffrage Association plays
the game both ways-in socialist maga-
ZINES for radical assistance. and In con-
servative newspapers for respectability.
what Politics Means.
Perhaps 1t is unfortunate that the ad-
vocates OF woman suffrage who sincerely
\ believe the ballot would help women
should have their organizations over
| run with feminists and socialists, but
on the other hand, II is merely the pen
atty that women must pay for entering
/ into politics. Many good men refuse
/ to run for office because they will not
accept the domination. nor tolerate the
abuses and corruption that must be
ignored or compromise with for the
party's good" Women who seek politi-
cal life are compelled to lower their
| ideals-the woman who believes the vote
would help her to protect her home"
must consort with the feminist who be-
| lieves the home is no more holy than
the postoffice' merely because she be-
longs to the "woman's party" The
woman who is a devout Christian must
work with the socialist, whose only God
is the social state-just because one can
not quibble about ideals and be a sue
cessful politician.
The salient point of the woman suffrage
issue is whether women shall remain a
socially united sex, the leaders. inspirers
companions Of men; or become politically
divided groups. the foils, imitators. COM
petitors Of male politicians. II any more
conclusive Representation OF the futility
and menace of woman suffrage is wanted
than that furnished by its lack OF
achievement in States and countries
where women vote, II can be found in
the present differences and anita taEonisms
that are being enEendered among women
themselves, over the agitation for the
ballot
The women OF England are divided on
suffrage Just as much as the men are
by political parties. and the suffragists
themselves are divided over the practice
of militancy. The women Of the United
States have been divided into two organ
lied camps OF approximately equal num-
bers working for and against the ballot.
while the suffragists themselves are sep
arated into factions on the question OF
how far militant methods" may be ap-
piled in this country.
Interference with Work.
The franchise question has invaded
women's clubs and interfered with their
work. 1t has sacrificed unity. co-opera-
ton. and definite programs for commu-
nifty and State betterment in order to
further the discord. personal ambition.
and greed for official position that exists
in politics.
After three short years of experience
with woman suffrage, the California
Federation of Women's Clubs passed the
following resolution, which needs no
comment: Resolved that We protest |
Of State and district federation TO fur |
ther partisan and political interests, and
that we work for the moral and educa- |
tional movements on which women stand |
practically united"
The cIubwomen OF Wisconsin, a State |
that vigorously defeated woman suffrage |
at the polls, are studying methods to
protect their forests and the result of
their nonpartisan viewpoint is expected |
to influence the passage Of bill now
pending before the legislature Of that
State. The voteless women OF New
York are scheduled to serve on the con-
stitutional commission of their Com
monwealth. Countless bodies of earnest
women throughout the country are ac-
complishinE the passage of laws in male
suffrage States that their votes have
not been able to give women under the
equal franchise. Simply because they
work for moral and educational move
ments on which women stand practically
united" these women can excel the ef-
forts of their sisters in suffrage states
who are politically divided.
I'VE shall one day learn to supersede
politics by education" said Emerson.
Women have learned this lesson. Tue
great majority know that "woman'sj
rights" are sacred privileges she has
won by her devotion to duty. her high
ideals, her unimpeachable virtue, that
have raised her from the dark depths
of savagery. superstition and slavery
to an elevation so much higher, purer.
freer than that which man has achieved
through centuries of battles and bal
lots, that the male himself, when he
glorifes in art, his liberty, Justice, or
virtue. casts 1t in the figure of a. beau.
tiful womani
Why should Women Vote.
The great body of woman who have
the interest of their homes, their hus-
bands, and their children at heart can
no longer do the work they have al
ways done in the quiet. effective way