The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-13
HAVE HUNDRED ELECTORAL VOTES.

There are something near a hundred
electoral votes to the credit of States
in which women vote. II the Demo-
Gratis deny the declaration that the Re-
nublicnns have made, these votes arc
altogether likely TO be cast solidly for
the Republicans. and that might easily
be the direct cause of a Democratic
defeat.
ILLINOIS alone. whose women will vote
In November. might easily turn the tide
OF the election. Illinois ond California
together could easily do 1t. Under Ger
tain circumstances. Here 10 a situation
that one Democratic national commit
teeman has been pointing out:
WILTON might lose New York ard yet
WIN the election II he could carry
Illinois. He is weak IN New York. and
that State must be ret down as very
dubious ground for him. but Illinois
might possibly go to him. II Is full Of
disgusted Progressives. and IL part Of
the pacif,stic middle belt OF the coun-
try to which the argument that "wil-
son kept US out Of war" must be ex-
pected to appeal. II Wilson is to have q
chance anywhere. so II IL conceivable
that Illinois might compensate the
Democracy for the loss Of Now York
and save the dag at the polls.
But Women Hold Balance.
But-and it's a very big but--Illinols
would never do that n the women Of
Illinois were affronted by the Democ-
rncy's refuseal to come along and mako
II unanimous for woman suffrage.
There's the rub. The unreconstructed
Tories among Democrats Will not listen
TO woman suffrage. The dominating
South not only opposes any concession
to tho idea. but Is so bitterly opposed
that. even II tho declaration were or
dered into the platform by Mr.. Wilson.
Southern Congressman and Senators
would refuse to be bound by II.
The women have seen the pledges OF
the Baltimore platform repudiated al
so many other things. that they have
small confidence that a suffrage declara-
alton would bind the party. Moreover,
a declaration such as President Wilson
has permitted heretofore would be OF
no real use: that Il. a pronouncement
In favor or suffrage whenever the
States should grant It one by one, az
the suffragists view II. precisely as
good as no declaration at all; II Is sim
ply a declaration that the National
Government would. In that case, not
attempt to prevent the thing that It
would have no possible power to pre-.
vent
Test In Mexico.
Mexico presents a test OF the capacity
OF the Democratic party; suffrage pre-
sents a test of its good faith. there Is
small confidence in either its capacity
to administer the big foreign issues or
Its good faith In handling such a do
nestle problem as suffrage. as to which
Democratic prejudices are deprecated
and ingrained.
Making a platform looks today a big
ger and more difficult problem than II
ever has looked before. The Demo-
Gratis admit that the Republicans did
a clever and skillful piece OF work a,
Chicago. They protest that It was un.
fair especially as TO Mexico; they insist
that the Mexico situation would have
been a fostering sore in the side or
any Administration that might have
been in power: but they realize that
the party In power must take the
blame. and they fear its consequences
Some Other Difficulties.
This is not all the difficulty in maxi
ing a Democratic platform: not nearly
all Of It. Nobody dares guess what
might happen between the time a plat
form is adopted and the day OF cleo
ton.
The country may be in war, or Europe
may be out OF war. Mexico. Europe,
Japan. might any one OF them engage
orr utmost abilities hoth naval and