Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-08
VOTES FOR WOMEN MEANS
VOTES FOR CITIZENS

! TABOR took bold step when Il went
- in for politics. so did women. Both
went beyond their admitted prerogatives
and known virtues 70 attempt a new
service. Their movements are linked
together. though not appearing so on the
surface. Labor's highest political funo-
tion Is TO safeguard the independence and
security of homo life through the just
reward OF Industrious home makers and
the protection Of women and minors from
an unfair pressure Of modern economic
conditions. SO Is women's.
Like all social forces seeking political
expression. and nerceiy combated at the
start. labor and women have been at
times Hurried. divided and unreasonable.
So Il was said. OF course. that women
could not reason and that labor would
not But this is averred OF all who seek
to expand their service from a special
TO general field. OF course the me-
chanic, fresh from his special task, will
draw some false conclusions from the
logic OF his immediate environment. He
will for time look at mechanics through
the small end of the telescope and the
rest of the body polite through the big
end. OF course the woman. similarly
emerging. at first made her plea for
The case for women seeking the ballot
is perfect. The onla thing that can hurt
just as special pleading is the only thing
that can hurt labor. The case for suf-
fragists is that they are seeking the
vote for all citizens rather than for
women. Any plea for an improved suf-
frage. to gain lasting sympathy. must
rest on an expressed desire for an i'm
provement In the use Of all ballots,
whether mems or women's. 1t is on pa
triotio ground that Mr.. Hughes stands in
considering suffrage primarily with ref
erence to the common welfare Of the
whole people. That women should work for
the common welfare in voting and in
getting the vote is more important than
that they should get bare Justice here
and there. In limiting the discussion to
an academic question OF States rights
Mr.. Wilson has thus far emphasized the
special-class and unsound premises from
which some suffragists argue. He wants
each State to wrangle locally over the
confused local aspect Of a woman vote,
which inevitably brings up the issue how
women will vote In each particular State
as a special class. Mr.. Hughes wants
the question taken out OF the special
(state) columns on the ballot and put in
the general tnationaD columns, on the
same principle that he wants labor legis-
Iation to be general and not special.
The objection to national suffrage. to
be consistent. should extend TO the
many national activities of unfranchised
WoAhchs "ohAcA AAoNo Aoa hAOob " w
with the social service which exposed IN
sanitary wording conditions and produced
better laws protecting women. They have
done invaluable work in exposing such
evily as that OF narcotic drugs. which play
their greatest havoc in degrading women.
It was through the experiences of women
trying to rescue such victims that the
agitation for the Harrison drug act re-
oeived impetus. and tho present drug In
auiry is the result Of the efforts of
women social workers as well as men.
II the country wants to discourage
these great humanitarian pursuits of
women by blocking their further develop
ment st can do so-by cutting on its
nose 20 spite fits face.