The Detroit times., 1914-12-17
BLAMES LIQUOR
CANCFOR DEFEAT
OF SUFFRAGE
Spent Millions in Ohio Cam
paign, Mrs. E. r. VOrce Tells
Local Workers
URGES FIGHT AGAINST
"OUR REAL ENEMIES
Says Rum Sellers Will Always
BE Bitter Foe of Votes for
Women

How the organized liquor interests
OF Ohio frustrated the attempt OF the
women OF the state to win the ballol
was explained TO members or the
Equal Suffrage league of Wayne coun'
ty, Wednesday afternoon. In the
leagues headquarters, John II. and
Farmer-sts., by Mrs. Ethel Ridgley
Vorce, of Cleveland, secretary OF the
Ohio Suffrage association. Accord
ing TO Mrs. Vorce, the women OF ONO
went down TO defeat in the recent
election because OF the millions OF
dollars that were poured into the
campaign by the liquor gang, and also
because OF shrewd trickery by liquor
politicians.
THE greatest blot on the name OF
Ohio today is the fact that in adopt
ing the so-called home rule measure
fostered by the liquor interests, she
has written liquor into her constitu-
ton and has deprived the legislature
of the right TO regulate the traffic in
strong drink" said Mrs. Vorce. Il
am not here to argue for prohibition,
but | must say that | do not under
stand why the women who are devot-
do not recognize that the organized
liquor gang is the chief menace TO
suffrage everywhere in this country.
We are supposed to be aggressive
women engaged in an aggressive cam
paign. Why not be aggressive in car
rying the battle to our real enemies
in Ohio, there were many women,
who, probably because of their at
titude on the question of prohibition,
declined TO recognize liquor as the
greatest enemy OF suffrage. Some
blamed the women themselves for de-
feat. Others blamed ignorant men.
We took no aggressive action against
the liquor ring In the last cam
paign, they spent $2,500000 in their
fight against us. They had no thought
of strongly opposing suffrage until a
few months before election, when
they realized that sentiment was
strongly in favor of the proposed
amendment for woman suffrage.
when the liquor crowd saw that
the women of Ohio were marching on
to victory, they resorted to the tactics
Of the political strategist. They In
itiated a home rule measure, which
abolished the county local option unit,
and gave every township or incor-
porated city or village the right to
decide for itself whether 1t would
tolerate the saloon and the liquor
traffic. This action drew the fire Of
the Prohibitionists. Despite the fact
that some friends OF the dry move
ment realized 1t was not time for a
state vote on the question, the Pro
hibitionists came forward with their
petitions, asking the passage OF q law
that would Danish liquor from the
state. The shrewdness of the whisky
politicians brought the desired re-
suits Interest was detracted from
the suffrage cause to the wet and dry
fight. Many who would have devoted
time to campaigning for suffrage,
plunged into the liquor campaign.
Had suffrage remained the one big
issue OF the election, the women OF
Ohio would be enjoying their right to
vote today"
Mrs. Vorce made II plain to her
audience that she was not voicing her
personal opinion on the prohibition
problem. She said she spoke of the
liquor traffic only inasmuch as II af-
fected suffrage.
1T should be plain to all women
by this time" she said, that as long
as the liquor men have dollar left,
that dollar will be used in lighting
the efforts OF women to gain the bal
lot. Liquor interests know that
women are opposed to the saloon not
for the sole reason that intoxicating
drinks are sold there. They know
that women will not for a moment
tolerate the vice which is so closely
allied with the liquor traffic.
Ohio has defeated suffrage again
II has adopted a measure OF the sa-
loon interests. We may call Il de-
feat, but, nevertheless, believe 1t
may be construed as victory. For
I believe the results of the election
have proven conclusively that Ohio
needs the voice and votes OF her
women in the affairs of her govern
ynanfp