Emmons County record., 1915-03-04
Women suffrage was killed in the

Women suffrage was killed in the
session Of the legislature just COM
pleted. Now. if the supporters of
the movement will get busy aud Sc
cure measures looking toward ref
erendum vote of the women on the
subject they will be getting some
where. 1t is pretty big job to ask
the men of the state to determine a
question Of interest to the women
without first knowing what the wo-
men themselves think Of the thing.
There are many men who doubt the
wisdom of women suffrage, but
there are mighty few who believe
the women shouldn't be allowed to
participate in politics if they want
to. On the other hand, the women
of the land should not be made the
mark Of every politician and poiti-
cal whim unIess it is the desire of
the majority.
1t is generally conceded that the
effort to secure votes for women is
with the idea of cleaning up pol
itics. Whether it would do so or
not is debatahle question. Wheih-
er or not it is right to force them to
do what the men will not is al: de-
batable. But. when the time comes
that the right of franchise will be
held in the light of duty rather than
a privilege there will be hope of bet.
ter conditions.
As the political situation stands
today not mure than two-thirds of the
legal voters cast their ballots. A ma.
jority of those who do is required
to carry point. What is the re.
suit: One over half of two-thirds
Of the voters determine the govern.
ment of all In the strictest sense
then. the majority does not rule.
1t will be said that where man
does not avail himself of the priv
iIege of the ballot he tacitIy agrees
to he satisfied by the action of the
majority of those who do. But
what about the character of those
votes which are never cast? The
very fact that there. is not suflicien,
personal interest to get them to the
polls is evidence that they would be
the most unbiased. impartial and
withal The best able to vote for mer
and measures on their respective
merits.
AS elections are conducted toda,
the large percentage Of those who
vote are those who do so to advance
the interests Of particular individ
uals. The man who is not approach
able is not prevaledsupon to vote
Why? Neither side can depend up
OF his vote and both are satisfied [,
see him stay away
When the time comes that voting
will be looked upon in the same
manner as during jury duty. ther
will there be chance for bette,
condition of self-government. When
ever compulsory voting laws are
mentioned there is a world of pro
test: impraciicable. unfair, can't be
enforced, and the like. Why can,
they be enforced? No man, from
the highest to the lowest, SCOTS al
the idea of doing jury duty. Wher
he Is cal I'd upon, he comes. There
IS no mlnclng matters. Incon
venIent or not inconvenient, he is or
hand. Tasteful or dstasteful. i,
matters not.
When the time comes-and NAV i
be soon that every legal voter viii
be required to cast his vote or riy,
as valid an excuse as is accent
able as an excuse from jury duty
then will the politics of the Ameri
can nation be purified. Then, i
Will not be necessary to call uto,
womankind to purify our govern
ment for US. 1t is the silent vote
the vote never cast. that can coup
teract the personal interests in pol