Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-15
0Id-Liners Suddenly Realize
Something Menaces Their
New York Machines.
VOTES FOR WOMEN TO
BE VOTED UPON SOON
Members of Fair Sex Have Organized
Forces Well and. Are Making
Striking Campaign.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

NEW YORK, October 15.-Empire
state politicians, democrats and repub-
licans, high brows" and rough necks,P
are passing through a novel experience
in these days fast drawing near to a
fateful November 2. It Is such an un-
usual situation that many Of them
seem dazed and unable to comprehend
1t.
They have suddenly awakened to re-
alization that they are in the midst OF
a stirring and to some of them menac-
ing political campaign. which, result
ing one way, would revolutionize pol
itics in the state, smash political ira
ditions and throw a monkey wrench
into many a well geared political ma
chine.
called upon on the date mentioned to
vote on ratification or rejection of a
proposed amendment to the state con-
stitution giving women the right OF
suffrage. There are 2.757.521 women OF
voting age in the state of New York.
The injection of a new element so large
into the electorate would be PROPOSE
tioh likely to make radical changes
in political methods.
old-Liners Are Disturbed.
While the old-Iine politicians, still
rubbing their eyes in amazement at the
condition that suddenly has arisen to
confront them, cannot believe that the
suffrage will carry. they are more than
a little disturbed nevertheless. They
recall that some almost unbelievable
changes have occurred in politics Of
the state within a decade.
i HN<xv,o
Platt and Odell and their iron listed
lieutenants ruled the republican party.
and David B. Hill and the Tammany
chieftain of the moment swayed the
destinies of the democratic party,
despots more inexorable than the czar
of all the Russias, that the primary
system would be slipped onto the state
as easily as drawing on an old glove?
Some Of the unreconstructed stand
patterns in both parties as they view
the trend Of politics say at times that
they are resigned to the possibility of
York. Nothing would surprise them,
they profess to believe, but 1t Is cer-
tainty that they are surprised at the
wonderful campaign the women are
making In behalf of their amendment,
and amazed over the working out OF
the political details. 1t is the organiza-
ton of the women and their methods
Of campaigning which are worrying
Tho political managers who are op-
posed 70 woman suffrage.
Ants Begin to Take Notice.
When polls of the state showed that
many county and district chatrmen of
regular party machines favor the
women having their way. the antis
began to rise up and take notice.
The women began in 1909 to build
machine on the most approved type
Of the man-constructed machines Of
the republican and democratic party.
in anticipation of this very campaign
now on. the ratification of the consti-
tutional amendment.
In Greater New York. where they
now have 100000 enrolled suffragsts.
they started from the ground up to
organize just as does Tammany. The
election district is the unit and there
tion district. Through her and her
staff. every house in the district has
been canvassed for support Of the SUI
fragist cause. Next came the assem-
captains and responsible for their work
and results. Then. there was bor-
ough chairman over the assembly lead.
er, and all worked in harmony and
under the general campaign committee.
Twelve Districts Created.
In the state outside Of the city
twelve districts were created, with ar
bitrary boundaries, each under gen.
eral supervision of chairman. Under
hirp-pardon the slip, under her-were
the county chairmen and the assembly
Why, It would have joyed the heart
Of the late lamented easy boss.
Thomas C. P!att himself. to see how
HNra. >tSt n
set it working. But he would be
green with envy to realize how
smoothly it ran with so little of the
kind he was wort to require Tor mis-
machinery.
For instance, one Of the concerns
which controls the bill boards gave
the women $4,000 worth of space for
the display of their posters All they
| had to do was to spend $4,000 for
printing. To be sure, virtue rue was "s. nov ss
the advertisers of women's apparei
scrambled for place for their ads next
to the suffrage posters, and the Dill
| posters did big business.
Posters to Cover State.
Speaking of posters. happened TO be
present at suffrage headquarters when
the publicity committee got out its new
poster, which will be placed by the
hundred thousands over the stA'e. II
portrays an attractive young woman
trumpeting this statement: President
| Wilson says the time has come. Vote
for woman suffrage" These posters
will also carry the dates of rallies OF
the suffragists.
| Gov. whitman has come out for suf-
| frage, and the women have long lists
Of men Of large reputation in the state
who are backing them. They are making
wide use of the bulletin issued by
President Samuel Gompers of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor. The quota
tion from the bulletin says:
| women cannot assume equal rights
with free men in the Industrial strug-
gle white classified with idiots and ir-
responsibles in political affairs. The
ballot cannot be long denied them. In
dustrial freedom is not sex problem
| it Is a human problem Men and wom-
en- work side by side and until both
have a voice in the establishment OF
working conditions the problems will
not be settled. Man workers will flnd
women exploited against them just as
long as women are denied responsible
ity as members Of the political society
Position Of Women.
| "As result of former conditions
traditions and customs. protection and