Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-05
The White House Incident.

undertaking the dubious task of con-
vincing the woman suffragists that 1t
/ is all for the best-the Presidents re-
/ fusal to give them a solitary hope of
i his or Democracy's support The
| President put it all on his party; said
/ he could not assume a position that
/ his party had not taken; denied that
he had placed himself in his cam
his eyes, sent his disheartened femi-
i nine subjects away, some in anger,
some in grief, some calmly facing the
| barrier and pledging themselves to
overcome this new obstacle, great and
| forbidding as it appears.
In the White House incident of the
other day, and the Democratic news
paper comment since, our readers will
i find further confirmation of the Ken
that the Democratic party. the Ma
tional Wholesale Liquor Dealers As
! sociation, the United States Brewers
Association, and all the branches and
ramifications of this powerful coalition
and their allied vices, are actively,
perssteptly and eternally opposed to
the mighty moral forces embodied in
the enlightened and enfranchised wo-
manhood of America.
in,
ministration the SAME purpose that
animated the Democracy of the Maine
! Legislature and its eloquent and de-
/ termined leaders-TO DEFEAT WO-
MAN SUFFRAGE AT ANY COST.
President Wilson says he cannot
assume a position that his party has
not taken. On the same ground it is
surprising that he dares have a per-
sonal religion with the Tammany or
ganization hell-bent in every avenue
and intent.
The firm way in which the Presi-
dent held to his high ideals, in spite of
his tender sympathies,' is a highly en-
Tightening incident in world progress.
We are not surprised that some of
these bitterly disappointed and indig-
nant women were overcome, for the
moment by their varied and conflicting
emotions and that they refused to
shake the Presidents hand when de-
parting. But they should have recov-
cred by this time and should feel more
pity than anger toward the man who
so frankly confesses himself the pup
pet of a political machine.
How promptly the Democratic press
and leaders seize upon the Presidents
position as reinforcement of the partys
attitude in opposition to equal suffrage.
One pats and encourages the other.
The unprincipled, uneducated, unin-
telligent, booze-benumbed. beastly
buns and thugs who are the willing
tools of the most rotten saloon politics
organizations, may vote and make our
laws; but highly intellectual women of
Christlike morals and purpose, women
who pay taxes to support the govern
ment. women who are the mothers of
sons and daughters whose futures they
would protect and safeguard, may not
l vote.
Why?
Simply and solely because those very
buns and thugs, played by the skilful
hands of INSCRIPTIONS political leaders
and organizations, say they may not.
And why do they vote against the
intelligence and character of woman
hood?
Because they fear it's refining influ-
ence. Such damnable dives and dens
l of vice and political infamy could not
long flourish under the determined op-
position of Christian womanhood.
And so these selfish interests battle
| grimly, brazeniy and determinedly, to
the very wall, against the vote of wo-
man. Their strongest argument Is the
idiotic claim that women would
|
many men neglect their businesses to
vote, or to take part in political af-
fairs, unless they have some private
iron in the fire that promises returns
Selfish, hypocriticai men and inter-
ests put on pharisaical airs and piously
declare that they could not respect"
womanhood If it stopped" to the bal
lot.
Heaven save the god of humor.
And do these poor feeble inteIlects
think woman respects the countless
; nonentities who now vote and domi-
nate the laws and policies of a great
people?
But all these, like the White House
J demonstration, are necessary that the
seeing may see, and that the mentally