New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-29
Jersey Vote Spurs Work
ers, Who See Triumph
in Lack of Apathy.
NOT EVEN A GUESS
FROM PARTY CHIEF )
Figures OF ANTS" Amuse Them
and They Say They're No
Wiser than Man in Street.

Harris burg. Penn, Oct. -. Veteran
politicians are amused by the predic-
lions Of the opponents Of women suf-
frage. who are INDUCING in statistics
to show that the suffrage amendment
will Be voted down on Tuesday
No seasoned campsigner will even
guess what is going 20 happen on
Election Day. Since the returns camo
in from New Jersey the situation has
80 shifted on this side Of the Della
ware that no one whose opinion il
worth anything will venture a state
ment for publication. Most Of the
politicians admit that they are jus,
as much az sea as the man in the
street. And for the pas, week or ten
days the man in the street has been
swinging around to belief that suf-
frage will win.
One thing that has helped 20 con-
fuse the issue mere is the defeat in
New Jersey of all the amendments for
consideration. There are tour amend
ments before the Pennsylvania cleo
torate, and two in addition 70 the SUI
frage PROPOSITIONS are Of vita! I'm =
portance. Il amendment No. 2 is voted
dowr. Philadelphia will face a financial
condition that will bear a resem blance
painfully close 20 bankruptcy, and II
amendment No. is lost the workmen' 3
compensation laws passed AZ the last
Sos sion Of the Legislature viii be use
Joss for all practical purposes, because
they vii. have no constitutional basis.
The New Jersey result nas alarmed
the friends Of these Two propositions.
Governor Brumbaugh has issued an
appeal 10 the voters 20 support the
compensation amendment, and the Re
publican state organization has called
on the county organizations for help
% put through the Philadelphia bonded
debt proposition.
Naturally. this state OF affairs has
had the effect Of checking the opposi-
ton. And as this element withdraws
IFS attacks the pro-sUtrage strength
shows an increase in both activity and
confidence From every section come
advices which indicate that during the
last few days the suffrage sentiment
has made great strides. Men who two
weeks ago did not hesitate 10 predict
that equal suffrage would not have
the slightest chance now admit that
Il anything, it has a pronounced lead
/ The turning point in the Pennsyi'
vanis situation came with the Ne"
/ Jersey result. Many political obsery'
ers based their estimates OF probable
suffrage defeat on the assumption that
: there is great deal OF indifference
among men regarding the suffrage
question.
They admitted that the suffrage
forces had organized the state 70 A
point where the politicians so thor
oughly respected it that they decided
that it was best 10 keep out OF the
fight entirely The same observers
pointed out that not more than OF
per cent of the voters that actually
turned out at the polls ever took the
trouble 70 vote on such matters as
constitutional amendments, and they
added that the opposition votes men
enough at every election TO take care
of such situation.
Bur the New Jersey vote OF 10000
for suffrage and an insight into the
methods that were necessary TO over
come Il acted like magic IN TINS state
Since then every one has realized tina
there is no apathy. and that anythin,
like an attempt to repeat here th'
methods which characterized the con
test ia New Jersey would have NJ
other effect than TO fill the ja!ls an'
D 10 harm doubly those responsible 70
il. The New Jersey lessons have bee:
carefully studied by the Pennsylvania
suifragists, who are prepared for al
kinds OF political thuggery.
Moreover. municipal elections vii
be held this year In Pennsylvania, anC
there are important campaigns on
Philadelphia will elect a Mayor. Al
the third-class cities will elect coun
cilmeu. County officers will be electe,
in each one OF the sixty-seven coun
ties. and in many Of them judges vii
be elected. The total vote is expected
TO be high as a result of the intense
interest in these local fights probabl,
as high as it has been at any recen
Pr. sidential election.
4 The local politicians have thei
hands so full that they will not have
any time 20 devote 20 anything bu
their usual political chores. This. o
course. is highly favorable to tn
suffragists Their organization is bull
up entirely independent of the ord
nary political machinery, and it vii
be busy twenty-four hours a day unit
the close of the polls Tuesday night.