The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-22
Watkins Wants to =.
Know Who Is Back
Of Anti-Sufffragists

Bismarck, n. D., April 20.-ToT The
Forum: In your issue of April IS ap-
peared an article reporting a meeting
of some parties who are in North Da-
kota, campaigning against. giving the
franchise to women in North Dakota.
This article fails to state any local Or
ganization DR. local person under whose
auspices these parties come. I am not
aware Of any organization or political
party or faction Of any party that is
opposing m suffrage except the
German American Alliance which is
reported to be in league with outside
brewery interests. 1t was the only or
e~anization of North Dakota that OPP
posed the Webb bill, lis the only organ
ized body of people that advocate re-
submission of the prohibition question
and the localities where the organiza-
ton exists constitute the most lawless
territory of North Dakota so far as the
enforcement of the prohibition law is
concerned.
1t seems incredible that some ladies
down in Boston and Ohio are SO inter-
ested as to send speakers to North
Dakota TO oppose our wives, sisters
and s~weethearts in their right to the
ballot, especially 10 unless there is
some local organization who has In
vited them. There may be such local
organization but / have seen no an
nouncement of such. / am wondering
whether it is the German American
Alliance in the state or the liquor in
terests from outside the state or some
other local society. The antagonism
of the liquor interest to wornan's SUIT
frage Is SO well known and their meth
DDS SO undetermined that II suspi-
the LIQUOR interests, the Boston ladies
OF any one else the right to work for
their ideas hut we are Interested In
the local auspices and 1t Is only fair
that such auspices be announced.
It seems to me a far stretch OF the
Imagination to say that u wives.
sisters and s~weethearts in prohibition
North Dakota are in league or viii be
In league with the sluma saloon anar-
chism Of New York or will In any way
partake of it's spirit. If socialists are
for wonanss suffrage. 1t ig not In my
opinion y discredit to socialism! In
fact I am not aware OF any organized
effort against wonlan's suffrage In
North Dakota except from liquor in
terests.
I do not believe that this effort to
ally our North Dakota woman's suf
frage movement with New York sa-
loon anarchism will take very well,
with North Dakota voters unless it p
peals to the stomach of the German
american Alliance. The reports JaTR
coming to our Office that the German
women want the ballot in order to pro-
tect their horie5 from blindpigs and
gamblers and that a large number OF
the more thoughtful Germans are In
favor of the prohibition law and the
enforcement of all the laws and that
the Germans are not a unit against
woman's suffrage. To insinuate that.
the North Dakota woman's suffrage
movement In any way snacks of am
archisni, free love, loose morals, lax
virtue, or decadent motherhood is an
insult to our ONE and greatly in
our suspicious as to the aug
pices under which these speakers
come,
If these persons are here opposing
North Dakota women on the invita-
ton OF some local organization that
stands for good. morals and the best
things, 1T will strengthen them with
the public to announce them. The peo-
pie have d right to know ana will have
suspicious until such auspices are def
initely announced and the ONCE and
officers OF such local organizations an
nounced. To tell us that they are out
Under the Boston National Association
against Woraar's suffrage does not