The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-13
S91 EDITORS OF 626
FOR SUFFS IN POLL
1000 Asked to Give Opinions
in All Parts Of the
Country.
MANY ARE UNDECIDED

~ the press OF the United States on the
question OF woman suffrage and the re-
su,ts show that "the ayes have IT," Let
tiers were sent TO 1000 papers in all
parts OF the country requesting that they
answer two questions. one TO determine
the editorial attitude toward the PROPOSE
ton and the other to discover the senti-
men, OF the community represented. A
total OF e26 replies were received. and
every state was represented.
The personal views Of the editors were
shown in the following vote: Afirma-
t,ye. 3el negative. 81 undecided. So.
The sentiment OF communities was re-
aec,ed in this vote: Favorable. 237 (.
r.gative. 1856. and undecided. 1873. As
she Literary Digest points out. although
,he communities are In favor OF Votes
FOR women" the clear ayes are not in
the majority.
Has BecOae . Big Issue.
"rntll recent years" the report says.
the subject was regarded indiferently {:
as a menace to the home and society by
some facetiously by others. and with
most astonishing apathy on the part Of
tho vast bulk Of the population. How
ever. SllH VI TT StS"t
states have already granted women the
franchise and as the question Is TO be
voted on this fall by four Of the greatest
Of the original thirteen States OF the
J-nion-New York, New Jersey. Pennsyl-
,ania and Massachusetts-it Is begin
ming TO arouse a degree OF attention
worthy Of a great political issue. The
genera, apathy is giving place to a more
lively interest. and II is gradually be-
coming apparent that the nation must
soon face one of those great issues In
government tina: In comparable to the
struggle for manhood suffrage. Woman,
who Yesterday was a political cipher, 10
to-day stepping up to occupy a plane Of
equality with man.
-Appa rently, the whole problem In re-
solved into a psychic contest between
IN. spirit, Of radicalism in the West.
~conservatism in the South and cyni-
cism In the North and middle States.
Only in the South is another great is
the negro question:
Approved where Tried.
Analysing the poll, the Literary Digest
lays In the suffrage States, where
women have already encountered all
phases of political experience. a larger
number OF communities actually are re-
ported In favor Of its continuance than
are the editors themselves, the enact
figures beins ninety mine editors and
lW communities In favor. WIKI only
seven communities doubtful and six op-
posed while there are twelve editors
opposed and -four doubtful.
"Out Of 12s editors in tho campaign
States ninety-eight are In favor. sixteen
opposed and fourteen on the fence. The
community Interest Is reported as fall
ing of somewhat. though II is still very
high. In this group. which will o
cast its ballot. the element of doubt Ia
nevertheless strong. forty-six communi-
ties being reported as uncertain. SIXTY
two in favor and t~wenty-one opposed.
In the Southern States the oppo-
s,tIon on the part of the community is
overwhelming. even though a large ma
3ority OF the editors actually express
themselves in favor of 1t. Forty-eight
out Of se~venty-slx communities are re-
ported as unfavorably disposed. with
only eighteen even doubtful, n an
nconsiderable nine in favor, Yet forty
editors .ndorse it. twenty-nine oppose IL
and six admit themselves uncertain.
New England and south slow.
Conservatism il the rule in New Eng.
land as in the South. A proportion
ateiy large number OF editors favor t.
however. the exact number being four.
teen out Ct a total Of twenty-three. Oh
the remainder five are opposed and
four doubtful. Only three communities
are reported In favor but ten are do,bt.
ful The remaining three are opposed
The remaining undecided States are
subject To the influences from both East
and West. and as a result their senti.
nents are divided In a fair balance. Ou'
OF 1863 communities reported, ~ favor
30 are doubtful and 50 oppose II. Al
helming majority Of editors favor
t. however. 121 advocating It, while only
IS oppose, n nine are still uncertain
In Massachusetts,. New York. Pennsyl'
vania and Now Jersey. States with eQua
suffrage campaigns On. the Literary d.
sHt said, 46 editors are unqualihedly
for equal suffrage. but only 26 com
%'nunities are reported a. showing the
same bias.
New York Is Interested.
The replies from New York State show
a really active interest in the question
most Of the editors treating the subjec
az they would any other political issue
and practically all showing evidences
OF local campaigns"
The tone of the replies from New
Jersey editors was pretty much tho sam'
az that Of those from New York, II
Pennsylvania more interest was dis
played in the larger communities. with
other strong political issues being In
jected into the discussion.
There was only one editor in Della,
ware who responded to the request fol
Information. and this IL what he said
"soS OF the woman in this siction am