The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-11-11
Northwestern Federation Makes
Plea For tho Ballot.
STANDS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
Organization Headed by Mrs. Joanna
snowden Porter Conducts Enthusias-
tic Campaign With Votes For Women
as Paramount issue-PIatform Gala
For Effective Liquidation.
BY MINNIE n. SCOTT.

j. Snowden Porter, president, has done
a noteworthy service In its work to Sc
cure the ballot for women. In the
campaign just closed the federation
adopted and used the following as its
platform and plea for fair play:
A group of Illinois women, encour-
aged as they were by the hope Of this
new emancipation offered to them by
their state and realizing the opportuni-
ties afforded them in their work OF so
clal service through the ballot, are CO
operating with their sister workers
having the same or partial rights IN
their effort to make national suffrage
fact, thereby giving to all women the
power to use the ballot for the purpose
Of securing such legislation as will pro-
mote the advancement of all citizens
OF all sections of this country.
Deeds, not words" Is motto much
believed In by this group OF earnest
women, and they set about the work
"
west" and the new northwest with
these ideas in mind at their first an
nnal meeting, held at Wichita, Kan.
adopted as their platform of principles,
among other planks, recommendation
for a national child labor law and one
for universal suffrage, asking the ma
tional parties, which intended to make
their appeal to the voting contingency
for support, to incorporate these prin-
ciples or their substance in their 1916
platforms.
This organization has been carefully
watching the situation since that time
and Analysing the pledges of the par
ties and their nominees, especially
those of the Democratic and Repub-
lican parties, Woodrow Wilson and
Charles Evans Hughes. The paramount
issue, so far as women are CONCERNED,
is universal suffrage, for it will be
through this source only that we can
hope for such legislation as we have
continually asked for, which will bring
to us all the other progressive meas
ures along social and economic lines
and assure to the home and the com
munity the security and welfare of the
people.
Universal suffrage win make the
child labor law secure. We have work
ed for, hoped for it a long time. There
fore we want to stand by our own
platform and urge all women to CO
operate with the "vote for women"
movement. Such laws we have also
looked forward to as a protection to
our children and future men and wo-
men and a safeguard to the health and
happiness of the breadwinner, but
when we analyze this legislation care
fully, given us in the eleventh hour.
presumably for political purposes. we
find little of merit In the giver.
America is again in travail. the re
suit of which we are hoping and pray
ing will give birth to national woman
suffrage, that new emancipation to-
ward which women have been work
Ing and hoping for more than forty
years, hoping and working to free
themselves from a bondage OF Unequal
ity. As at the time OF the emancipa-
ton of the Negro slave, SO 1t is now in
the affairs of the nation. Mems hearts
are failing them for fear of what is
coming upon the republic, whatever
they may say to the contrary. They
are seeking everywhere for a solution
OF the problems which are continually
confronting them. Wars and rumors
of wars, disasters by land and sea, la
Dor complications, the tariff question
many matters of social and economic
interest, are constantly engaging the
attention of our wisest and most sober
statesmen. They invoke the 'onsid-
Grafton of congress, and still they are
far from solution. Our country was
never in more unsettled condition
since its discovery than 1t is ut the
present time.
Wherever women have been given
the franchise either partial or in full
home and community conditions have
been bettered because laws have been
made better and more secure. Yet, as
"a little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump" there must of necessity CONT
a retardation of effect, aud we can
only hope for universal and steady ad
vancement when all the women in ev
cry part of the country shall have the
power to express their desire through
the ballot. Until then we shall con
tinue to see our country rise and fall
like the ebb and flow Of the sea.
Four years ago there came to US d
new party with a new platform, with
new planks. Offering US protective
child labor laws and woman's suf
frage. This party was to woman like
the cloud the size of a mans hand
The hope extended then has grown un
til, like that cloud. 1t has grown foi
US to the typical pillar Of fire. lead
ing to the promised day, as our fel
low men have extended that franchise
The new planks Of 1912 have become
the vital issues of the campaign jus
closed.