New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-31
PENNSYLVANIA
ANYBODY'S FIGHT
Hope of nti-Suffragettes
Is in Philadelphia'S
Vote.
PROGRESSIVE VOTE
IS A BIG FACTOR
Union Labor, Particularly in
Mine Sections, a Tower Of
Strength to Women.

harrisburg Penn. Oct 30. II suf-
frago is beaten in this state it will be
in the boss-ridden cities OF Phila-
delphia and Pittsburgh, though it is a
bit early yet to concede that either
side has victory in sight. Almost any
thing may happen between now and
the time the polls close on Tuesday.
Friends of the amendment assert
that they will carry the state by $780,
600. Opponents claim the state by the
same margin. The impartial observer,
the ordinary man in the street, cannot
agree with the claims OF either side
Few really look for such large suf-
frage majority the average person is
inclined to think such a claim eXag-
gerated, to put it mildly; but Roose-
Welt carried Pennsylvania three years
ago, Boies Penrose was in the minority
year ago, and history may repeat
itself.
On the other hand. those who claim
that the ants will have 10000 votes to
spare when the last ballot has been
tabulated would be the most surprised
persons in the state if this should
prove true. The one thing they are at
all confident of is the machine vote in
Philadelphia That undoubtedly will
be thrown against the amendment, and
Philadelphia will show big anti vote.
A large anti vote can also be counted
on from Pittsburgh, where the liquor
interests are working tooth and nail to
defeat the women, but it is bold man
who will say what the result will be in
other parts of the state, notably in the
coal regions, where organized labor is
with the women.
Will Better Jersey Showing.
1t is conceded that in PENNSYLVANIA
the women will make better show
ing than IN New Jersey, where the pro-
portion OF the vote was as three is to
two. That will not have TO be i'm
proved very much TO swing the state
into the votes column. A change of
about per cent would have saved the
day to suffrage in New Jersey.
Ordinarily it requires neither the son
Of prophet nor the seventh son of a
VIII vote on any given question. Three
years ago. on the eve of election. il
was clear that the Progressives would
sweep the state. To great extent the
Republican organization. which is more
or less openly lighting suffrage, has
come back, but II is matter Of grave
doubt whether or not the Progressives
who have returned to the party have
Lcl u fap hosr
that they are no longer as a mass op-
posed TO the extension of the ballot.
From the standpoint of organization
the women who seek the ballot have
had the women opposed beaten score
Of ways. They have, to use the words
of the late Matt Quay. carried the
fiery cross over the state" they have
been aggressive in every county and
into every county they have carried
their liberty bell demonstration. The
ants have not been as aggressive, and
in some of the places whore headquar-
tiers were opened by them it was nee
essary TO close them for lack of in
terest. The explanation they offer for
this is that they do not need to make
the fight their sisters who wish the
ballot are compelled TO make.
Liquor Men Fight Cause.
One thing that has helped the suf-
fragists is the necessity of the Phla-
delphia gang getting through an
amendment extending the capacity of
the city to raise money. If that amend
ment goes through the city will escape
serious financial difficulty, if not bank
ruptcy, and politicians who live upon
contracts will have something TO feed
on. The experience IN other elections
has been that amendments either stand
or fall together, and in fighting the
suffrage amendment those most anx-
ious to have the Philadelphia amend
ment carried have to be careful lest
they do not injure their own cause.
Another amendment which will be
voted on is essential TO the proper
working of the workmen's compensa-
tion act. That will bring out a big
labor vote, and the larger the vote out
side OF Philadelphia, the better the
chances of the women are believed TO
be. In the past the men Of the mining
sections have proved 70 be their
friends. notably when the bill to sub
nit the amendment was in danger and
monster petition from the coal fields
saved the day. They are expected 10
hold the same position on Tuesday and
be counted with the women.
Outside the bosses in PhiladelI hia,
the greatest danger to the amendment
is from the liquor element This
frankly fears the effect of the extern
sion of the ballot and as frankly is
lighting IN Pittsburgh and other CEN
tres. Between the two, some Of the
larger corporation interests find them
selves caught as between two mill
..o,o. TLoso ora NOT overfrieudlv IN