Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-20
WOMAN AND THE VOTE
THE PRESENT SITUATION
By ELLEN ADAIR

No question before the public today is OF
more general and vital interest than that
of the enfranchisement of women. Vic
tory crowds on victory so fast that the
layman is bewildered by the progress of
the movement and Is more and more be-
ginning to accept the reform as one that
will soon be established. Even the less
progressive element of the community
which does not actually believe in
womans entrance into the larger field of
work seems now resigned to the in
evitable
Universal suffrage is going to bring
many wonderful Things in It's train
Women have accomplished much without
the vote, but their power for good will
be Increased hundredfold once it has
been granted them.
Among those who favor equal suffrage
m Washington is Mrs. William jennings
Bryan. Mrs, Bryan thinks that there IS
a real need for equal suffrage, and that
one of the great arguments in favor OF
woman understanding government mat
ters is that she can train her sons to ac-
being properly trained to the work that
lies before them. and the mother is the
one TO instruct the child rather than the
father. The child. too, will respect his
mother with a greater respect II she can
talk on political matters with him. Every
mother should strive to be up TO date,
and take an active interest in what Is
going on around her. For the influence
Of the mother lies at the very foundation
OF our institutions. The matter or tax
alton is a mere terrestrial afrair, but
when women get the vote, their power
will reach out in a multitude OF ways
mat make for good.
In the matter OF early instruction Ia
politics. this duty toward the child hrst
OF all falls upon the mother. The vote
viii not only make her take keen in
eerest in government matters, but the
schools will start training the boys and
girls In politics and In the principles that
make for good citizenship, in order TO fol-
low up and supplement the early instrue-
tion OF the mother The head OF the
william Penn High School, Philadelphia,
Is At present much dissatisfied over the
predominance OF elassicism in the curric-
ulum. He feels that there is too much
atudy OF classics. and not sufficient In
struetion in manual training and in the
things that make for good citizenship.
Mrs Bryan Is very glad that the
EvENR0 LEDGER has come out for
Woman's Suffrage and believes that when
women are educated. the vote viii come
70 them, Women already have a tremen-
dous power In social reform even without
the vote. but OF course they are lsboring
under q great disadvantage.
Another thing that the vote win DO is
70 adjust the relation between man and
woman TN II Is rightly balanced
yet Ia the long years liksr must they grow,
The man be more Of y HOman, Ehe OF man;
de gain 10 sweetness and In moral height
Nor lose the wrestling thsws that throw the
shs nsaiaf breadth nor fan 10 chiIdward care,
Nor loas the childlike IN the larger mind
UuliI Il last she set hGraelf 10 man like perfect
music unto noble words.
And 80 thaae twain upon the skirts OF time
slt alde BY side full-summed In ali their pow
self ersnelns each. and rsvsFsnelns each.
4ei iIks eaeb other, even ~ those gho love"
a more balanced relation between man
and woman will surely come, and the
vote sill % much 70 achieve this desired
end.
AFa Bryan believes that marriage is
the Best state Tor women. and that do |
a4sIieiff and mentality should 80 hand |
81 azHd me average woman does not
EsatH HsI highest Development mentally /
sn'ez4 she s msEFied Ihe woman Nho !