The Washington herald., 1914-09-27

our democracy and the fruit Of our Po-
liticsl experience is against allowing GER
tain individuals or groups TO get pos
session of the machinery Of elections.
and thus to thwart the will Of the peo-
pie. Whether the would-be bosses are
out-and-out corruptionists or merely mis-
guided enthusiasts. the e1ect is bad.
sincere and conscientious dreamer IN
control OF the functions Of government
may work just as much harm as cor
rupt political boss. The only difference
is that the theorist is more Impractical.
and less able TO see his own faults.
No one vet has doubted the sincerity
Of Kaiser Wilhelm, but many believe his
views may prove a lasting burden to the
GermSn people No one doubts the sin
cerity Of Theodore Roosevelt. and the
honesty OF Eugene Debs is unquestioned.
and yet public opinion is opposed to either
Of these men acting as our Chief EXecu-
tive. But If either of these men could
get possession of the political machine
by which public opinion is reckoned. he
would not scruple to regard his own
theories as sanctioned by divine right,
lust as much as Kaiser Wilhelm believes
in his mission, regardless Of the expressed
will OF the majority OF his people.
Likewise. DR.. Shaw. and Miss Alice
Paul both regard themselves as bearers
OF new ElIlS OF OppOl luIllAg elN AAStAoIH
to women, the while they work constantly
to manipulate the Congressiona and
constitutional machinery TO carry out
their theories. in spite OF the will of the
majority OF women. Now women un-
doubtedly have a right TO be represented
in government the main question is. how
may they best be represented?
The Main Question.
sunrasists contend that women can be
represented efficiently. only by means Of
the ballot Anti-sunragists answer that
women are not only represented, and
well represented by men with the bal
lot, but that as nom -partisans in politics,
women have a nobler and more powerful
influence on the public opinion behind
the ballot, than they would with piece
Of paper in a ballot box" To see that
this is true one need only stop to con-
slider First, how the best men strive
to attain nonpartisanship in politics: and
second how unwilling women are them
selves TO become partisans and poll
ticians When a newspaper wants 10
have a powerful influence on the public
opinion that is eXressed at the polls.
il calls itself independent" and many
a political boss would give dozens OF
votes to possess the real power that is
often possessed by one good editorial.
Also, when public opinion becomes dis
gusted with the control OF community
by bosses. civic leagues. and good gov
ernment committees. with loud protesta-
tions OF their independence from the
machine OF any party. seek to remedy
matters BY educational and moral in
iuences by counseling rather than by
the electorate.
Now al the last Chicago primary, the
'woman's party" according to the suf-
fragists, tried to exercise just such
influence We wonder why,
IT, as suffra gists contend. the ballot is
the only real power Why. II the fran
chise is the only effective instrument.
were not the women advised to vote for
one party or one candidate? They were,
in some instances, but the trouble is
that only per cent Of the women would
vote at all, and they were not urged
10 vote for those candidates who would
give the State a better government, but
for the politicians who were most favor
able to the "woman's party"
In other words the few women who
will go into politics are not there pri-
narily to improve our government. or to
benefit women, but to advance them
selves. But even in this, they fail. be-
,ause as a matter OF fact. women Sc
sure civil appointments and positions Of
honor in the community much better
where they don't have to depend on the
franchise. Even the leading suffragists
ire women who acquired their power and
influence in male suffrage States. Why ,
must DR.. Anna Howard Shaw. of Penn |
;ylvania, without a vote. go to the as I
,istance of the Colorado suffragists with !
oallots, TO protect them from another !
;uffragist, also without a vote, of the I
Union. How is it possible |
hat member OF a militant band with !
,ut a ballot. can go into Colorado and |,
become such a menace to the political |
lower of women who have had the |
franchise twenty-one years. that they |
must call on another woman without a |
,allot to come in and help them counter !
Lct the first woman's indirect in !
luence?" According to suffrage theory, !
drs Dora Stevens. of the Congressional |
-nion. ought to be absolutely powerless /
n Colorado, where she has no vate. and /
'et they are afraid that her indirect /
influence" may antagoniZe the Demo-
ratio party so much that all the votes !
f women in the nine suffrage States will !
'e unable to repair the damage done to
he cause" And thus woman suffrage
itself is furnishing an anus
ng demonstration of the folly of votes
or women"
The Contrary Sex.
First Politician-But even II women
81 h. hall