The Washington herald., 1916-05-24
The Women Campaigners.


Should the woman suffragists succeed in con-
vncing the majority in Congress that they can
and will-if they deem it necessary-do all that
they claim is within their power in the election
next November the Susan B. Anthony amend
ment to the Federal Constitution, giving the
women Of the United States the vote may be
resurrected and an earnest effort made to have
lit enacted by both Houses before adjournment
of the present session. At least the effort
would be made to appear earnest and to pro-
duce this effect without results, rather more
adrotness than was displayed in former trans
parent demonstrations of activity will be called
for. The women of the Congressional Union
have made rapid progress in the school Of poll
tics and with a strong hand to play this year,
present indications are that they are playing it
we'll. Their cards the ballots in the hands
of their exalted sisters of the twelve suffrage
States, and the game is to convince the party
in power that they will all be stacked against
the Democratic ticket, Presidential and Con-
gressional, next November, unless the suffrage
amendment is at least given fair and square
test in Congress.
1t is good politics, ard if the Democrats can
be made to believe that the suffragists can do
exactly as they please with the eighty-one cleo
toral votes Of the twelve equalsuffrage States it
will be very easy to make them listen to rea-
son. That is what the eloquent and persistent
young women of the Congressional Union in
Washington are trying to do now.
1t is doubtful however, whether they are
themselves quite OF their ability to swing
with certainty the twelve States which they claim
control one-ffth OF the electoral college and
cast one-third of the votes necessary to elect a
President Their appeals to the women Of
these States would indicate that at least some
bo
However, the ENJOYS OF the Congressional Union
free" States full OF confidence, and are looking
to the conference and demonstration by the
Womans Party at Chicago during convention
week to lend strength 10 their arguments.
While all political parties expected to be
impressed, the great object lesson is for the
Democrats. The Republicans can gain favor by
putting equal suffrage plank in their plat
form, but such a plank will bring to Democrats
only and derision, for they are to be
judged not by their promises but by their fail
ure to perform when the opportunity was pre-
sented to them. The Congressional Union,
pointing to its enfranchised allies, thus is de-
manding OF Congress the advancement Of the
Susan B. Anthony amendment, with the casting
of the vote OF the twelvc suffrage States to the
Republicans the alternative.
1t must be admitted that if these workers for
suffrage actually in a position > con-
troll the women's vote they have made great
progress, because in the past it has not been
demonstrated that this vote was any easier to
marshal and sway than the labor vote, the Ger
man vote or the prohibition vote. Many Demo
Gratis in Congress will remain skeptical and it
may be to their cost. II they fail to heed the
warning to yield TO persuasion or pres
sure, shall be able to take a more accur-
ate measure of the power and the solidarity Of
the ballot in woman's hands. At any rate wom
en- voters must be regarded as a more i'm
portant factor in the election next November
than ever before