The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-09
Now the Politicians
Woo the Suffragists,
Pleading for Support

The vote in Iowa on the proposal u
extend the franchise to women wa
4 l87, 76O for and 143, 669 against the plal
"A fine showing for the suffragists con
sidering that this is the first suffrag'
n campaign conducted in that state. Anti
suffrage organizations in the east threw
their strength against the suffragist
and sent funds to defeat them. Tn
daunted, the women of Iowa have an
nounced that they have already started
I On new campaign.
That this vote came out of the ives
ID natural. 1t argues for it a strength
and ruggedness which is not found il
the east. There the puritan element, al
lied with moneyed interests, all per
meated with semi European ideals, Gre
ate curiously anomalous public opinion
which does not lend itself easily to pro.
gression.
And now out of that same west has
come the Woman's party, launched in
Chicago-the first political party in the
world composed of women.
II is the one suffrage organization
which has something besides the ques-
tionable persuasion of indirect influ-
ence" to offer in its own behalf.
For 30 years suffragists have tried
through all fair means to persuade men
to listen to their pleadings-privately
through legislative appeals. through ed
ucation and hard work-and the majority
a men, east of the Mississippi, have
burned deaf ear. Only now are they
tegaining their hearing, and the marvel
ous restoration of this important sense
d due to the fact that back of the Wom-
ans party is goodly share of the
100000 votes in enfranchised states,
md in the treasury is a new gift of
p5O0, 900 as a nest egg for future dona-
Hons to push the fight.
Since the beginning of the movement,
women speaking in congress and legisla-
tive assemblies have met with indiffer-
ence ridicule and, often, insult. They
have been advised to go home and wash
the Dishes" and have been told without
ceasing that "woman's place is in the
home" Now representatives of each po-
Htical party are clamoring for hearing
before them in Chicago. On Wednesday
representatives from the Republicans,
Democrats, Progressives, Socialists
and Prohibitionists delivered glowing
speeches before the assembled women,
pleading for their support. Each orator
pointed out the advantages to be derived
from his particular party and his alone
the deafness was on the other side.
For the Woman's party is organized
for one thing, and one thing only-the
passage of the Susan B. Anthony amend
ment, which enfranchises all citizens OF
the United States irrespective of sex. IT
stands behind whatever party will pass
this amendment, but it will not tie itself
TO any of these until it has full assur-
ance of what that party will do. Declar-
ing for the principle of suffrage, as the
Republican convention in Chicago has
done, viii not suffice. What the women
insist on Is dehnlte, concrete action. They
want the Anthony amendment made law
and will not be satisfied with anything
else.
Therefore, they are steadfast, immov-
able, firm Of purpose. Little can be ac-
complished until ali the women Of these
United States are accorded justice.
Never before have they had power in
their grasp and they have been obliged
to trust to the chivalry of man and his
sense Of right to deal fairly by them.
They have waited long and patiently.
They have toiled and struggled toward
this end and have gradually gained IL
states, but that they must continue to
pursue this humiliating method for an
cther 30 years, they do not believe.
ence the new Woman's party, born In
&n1oago. June 8, 1915.