The Washington herald., 1916-04-30
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
CALLED failure
Fair Sex Possessing Vote Have
Failed to Bring About Re
forms, Says Writer.
CITES ILLINOIS SFACTS
Rebels Against Linking Suffrage and
Prohibition Issues-Sees Un-
fulfilled Prophesies.
By MRS. JOSEPH NJ. sToDDARD.

Much has been stated by the suf-
fragists in regard to votes for women
killing the liquor trafic and wiping
out the saloons. A few important facts
have come to US from the latest re-
suits of the recent elections in Illi
nois on this question.
The women in the first place have
ignored this mOoted privilege of voting
TO an alarming degree as we draw
comparisons between the years of 1915
and 1915 100000 less women voted
in Chicago this year than last One
woman voted to three men. When we
consider that there are about 200 900
women in Chicago and only S1,131
registered II does not show their eX
treme interest In municipal affairs or
important political questions and the
liquor question along with the rest
met with the same noticeable indif-
ference.
The vets claim zoo new saloons and
the drys claim to have closed zoe
saloons; seven towns went wet to six
dry. In East Dubuque. Ill, the
womens vote was 2O4 for the saloons
and So against. The editorials of many
Of the papers of Chicago conceded that
. the vets won more than they lost at
the recent election. Over in Michi-
Ean, where mere man is still in charge
q politics. the prohibition forces not
dry territory.
Fail to settle Question.
Ingham County. which contains Lam
sing. the State capital. and which
was considered the storm center, gave
the Drohibitionists their largest ma
jority. AIS. When We call to mind
California. with its tremendous ma
ictity against prohibition: when We
consider the number of male suffrage
States with Statewide prohibition, is
il not the greatest folly to attempt TO
drive suffrage and prohibition in double
harness any further? Does it not de-
clare rather forcibly that the liquor
question is not to be settled by the
mere fact of women voting. but rather
by an aggregated and enforcing pub
lie sentiment which in the course of
time will produce permanent laws for
regulating or effacing such traf1c?
William NJ. Bray, in the Atlantic
Monthly for April, says: "If equal suf-
frage ought not to be granted for other
reasons than because of its effect on
the saloon business, then it ought not
to be granted at all, for the saloon ques-
tion will be taken care of without wom-
ems votes. Linking the two questions
together only tends to prevent a fair, i'm
partial Judgment of each"
The suffragists have always been
strong in their arguments upon questions
involving principles Of a moral character.
They have always claimed that with
women in politics moral standards would
be raised. politics purified and home
problems more easily adjusted. Mrs. Jo-
seph T. Bowen. of the Juvenile Protective
NssocZtion OF Chicago. at the annual
Faster luncheon Of the WOman's City
Club, said:
Calls Suffrage FaIIure.
Conditions under the present admins
tration in the dance halls and Cabarets
are worse than the association has ever
known them to be and Chicago must
rise to protect these young people
through the only method possible, the
puriication Of political life"
II this be true. where were the wom-
On on election day in Chicago? II votes
fnr-women Is the great panacea, why are
vice conditions worse than they have
been for years in Chicago? Perhaps the
menace OF tho stay home vote. the in
different voter the voter who shifts re-
out or ten suffragists will tell you that
YOU are dog in the manger" when
you oppose suffrage.
In the fact Of unfuIfIled prophesies, su-
thoritatiye denials. repeated blows and
the rejection of suffrage measures in the
majority of the States throughout the
country We fnd the suffragists reduced
TO a platform OF technical phrases and
an impossible amendment contrary to
states rights and democratic principles.
Suffrage has not made good. Suffrage
has not proved to the people that it is