The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
Mrs. Horace Brock Declares
Partisan Politics Defeats
Work of Women.
STRENGTH IN UNION
Anti Leader Says Federation Of Clubs
Recognize that Indirect influences"
Is Stronger Than Ballot.
By ltRs. HoRAcE BRoclS.


latest war OF the women" is over the
Endorsement Of suffrage by the clubs.
The Women's clubs were organized or
iginally TO coalite the work of all the
feminine civic, social, and educational or
ganizationS into State and national fed
erations where women of every creed and
political opinion could harmoniously unite
for the common good. Before the wom-
ems clubs were formed into great fedora
tions. much strength and efficiency was
wasted on account OF the competitions
and contentious between various associa-
tons. each with a religious or social pur-
pose that conhicted with or merely dupli-
Gated the object Of some other associa-
ton
When the Federations were organized
II was felt imperative TO keep all issues
on which sincere opinions differ on reli-
gion or politics out Of the general work
for civic and social betterment. Without
the ballot. and without the political temp
tation TO indulge In partisanship. women
have used the State and general fedora
tions Of women's clubs for the benefit
and advancement Of civilization as well
as themselves and their children.
Broad Scope OF Work.
Separate organizations have been
formed to meet almost every social
need Of our country. Besides the associa-
tons TO stimulate art and literature, or
ganizations have been formed to do away
with child labor. to increase civic clean
liness, and sanitation, to protect young
girls, TO get better legislation for women
In industry. to train women to better
knowledge OF wifehood and motherhood.
or to means OF self-support in womanly,
respectable. and pleasant occupations.
A list Of the various women's organiZa-
tons which are at the forefront Of our
general advancement would be too long
to print here without sighting many that
are worthy Of special articles on their
activities alone. But the greatest and
most powerful asset to organized women
in America has been their union on moral
and educational reforms, independent Of
sect and party.
The California Federation OF women's
Clubs passed the following resolution
last May, after a three years experience
with woman suffrage in that State: Re
solved, That We protest against using
the influence and agencies Of State and
District Federation to further partisan
and political interests. and that we work
for the moral and educational movements
on which women stand practically
united"
This then. Is what woman suffrage does
to organized women: Robs them Of the
strength and unity OF a non-partisan,
non-political moral and educational in
fiuence which II would be a desecration
to attempt to count in ballot boxes
These are not idle statements. The his
tory Of woman suffrage Is a record Of
impotence to effect any OF the great
measures which all women desire. though
the same political machinery and mani
pulation which is used by men. Wyom-
ing. with forty-five years of woman suf-
frage, has remained the forty-seven Com
monwealth in our Union from 1853 to the
present day. Colorado. where women
have voted twenty-one years, Is the only
State in the country that has had to be
put partially under martial law by the
Federal authorities twice in ten years to
safeguard its sovereignty from anarchy
and riot, and protest the lives Of its
women and children. Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Michigan and Montana have
all had problems similar to Colorado's,
but in none OF these States has so much
corruption and inefficiency in admins
tration developed that the United States
government has had to take military ac-
ton upon the protest of foreign coun-
tries, as was done in Colorado last
spring. And the soldiers are still there
because the State with a generation OF
votes for women" is incapable Of self
ana must De from
Washington like q Territory.
Montana, a neighboring State with the
same social and mining question to solve.
with its chief city recently overrun with
anarchists and agitators bent on Great
ing another Colorado situation. has clear
ed up its problems without Federal aid,
merely because. under male suffrage no
administrative and militia scandals, pack
ed Juries and supine oficials made ma
N-WZ
fair, you say, to blame the suffragists
for Colorado? But the Colorado people
themselves think IL is. Mr.. ]. B. Malln,
OF Denver denounced votes for women"
as directly responsible for the conditions
which brought about the anarchy which
makes the presence Of Federal soldiers
In Colorado still necessary to preserve
order. four months after the Ludlow af-
fair. And the New York Sun commented
on Mr.. Malin's statements, editorially as
follows: Perhaps the worst blow yet
struck at woman suffrage is the asser-
ton made by Mr.. ]. B. Malin. of Denver.
that II Is responsible for the condition of
armed insurrection recently prevailing
in Colorado. The State government he
says Is weakened by twenty years Of
woman suffrage, which has succeeded in
eliminating the strong and placing the
weak In ONCE Whether Mr.. Malin is
the cause, there can be no doubt as to
the fact. The government OF Colorado
has shown itself weak to the level Of
imbecility. 1t must be borne In mind
that this Is one Of the results Of woman
suffrage, which its opponents always
foreshadow."
Colorado might still clear itself from
blame, and the suffragists claim an alibi
were 1t not that States second ofense.
Its second failure in government.
Has everybody forgotten 1904 and the
campaign Gen. Bell had to make in Colo
RADIO then to the same purpose. namely
the preservation Of order In the mining
districts? Why has no other state gov
ernment under male suffrage failed SO
miserably and so often as colorado!
Better labor conditions are the chler
demand on which suffragists ask for the
vote. II we have worse labor conditions
in a State where women have voted
twenty-one years than anywhere else In
the country. who is to blame!
sunraEIsts steal Credit.
The suftragists attempt to focus every
reform and achievement made by women
into an array Of evidence of the necessity
Of won1en's entry into politics In educa-
tion, civic achievement and social status.
as well as protective legislation, women
have gained their ends without the vote
Not only that, but they have won better
laws, greater privileges and wider oppor-
tunities through the moral influence of
their united womanhood than they can
ever hope to realize as imitators OF men
in politics.
The politician. whether male or female,
is limited by his party. and his power In
the community is q thing that Is esti-
mated counted. cartooned and ieered At