The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1915-10-09
THE WOMEN HAVE EARNED

All over the country the big prob
lem of the hour is social legislation,
and that fact makes it all the more
important that Pennsylvania go right
on the woman suffrage question when
it comes before the voters in Novem-
Der.
bRtH recently the first care of leg
islators was property. They thought,
and so did the professors who taught
economics and law and kindred sub.
iects in the colleges, that if property
were well taken care of, the people
who owned the property would see to
it that there was a sufficient measure
Of justice in the world.
But some how this beautiful and
comforting theory did not work out
we'll in practice. Poverty and misery
increased at a frightful rate; vice
brazenly fiaunted itself in the cities
and procurers sought victims among
the daughters of the farms and the
hamlets; greed compelled little chill
dren to labor long in jerrybuilt fac
tories that were fire-trapS in every
sense of the word. For many, equal
opportunity became mere figure of
speech; wealth accumulated and men
decayed. Gradually it began to dawn
upon the more thoughtful that human
souls and not property should be the
first care of law makers
1t was long while before this new
theory got a practical start. Among
other difficulties that were encount-
cred was the inexperience and the
timidity of legislators. In the alb.
sence of precedents they hesitated.
They admitted the wrongs, but plead.
ed that there was no remedy in the
law making power.
The women began to take a hand.
They had no vote, but by dint of tre.
mendous effort they could at times
arouse public opinion and public con-
science, and they did. Bourbonized
legislators began to give way, and
great strides in the direction of social
justice have been taken.
Here in Pennsylvania the women
got behind all movements for civic and
State improvements Parks and
Fairgrounds began to spring up on
sites formerly used as dumping
grounds for refuse and rubbage
Drinking fountains were erected for
thirsty humans, and watering troughs
for animals. The State Library system
was extended, largely through the eff.
forts of the women. Kindergartens
were introduced into the school sys-
tenn. New hospitals were built. IT
has been through the efforts of the
women also that the State Forestry
work has been pushed. In a word
they have shown by their efforts in all
parts of the State that they are not
only interested in good government
but capable of sharing its RESPONSE
bilities.
Creditably as the women of Penn,
sylvania have acquitted themselves,
however, much remains to be done.
The reactionary elements in politics
are now we'll entrenched and further
progress under ordinary circum
stances could only be made at the
cost of great effort. Beyond doubt
the most effective stroke that could
be used against the interests that are
trying to hold back the Keystone
State would be to give the women, as
part Of the public which has been
leading the fight for better things, the
right to act directly upon law max.
ing and law administering by giving
them the vote.
The Equal Suffrage amendment to
the constitution will come before the
voters on election day, November 2.
Every loyal Pennsylvania who be,
lieves in his State and wants to see
it forge ahead will vote Yes" on that
amendment.