The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-11-18

NdHCe-WISluCl dpolOSy bN uN VI NV ',
think we should not speak, the Tribune will risk a word
on what it considers one of the big lessonsTf not the
biggest lesson-of the campaign just closed.
Back in Chicago last June. and again in St. LOUIS,
there were silent parades with conspicuous banners offer
ing, in effect, ito the highest and best bidder the votes
OF the four million women of the twelve suffrage states,
eleven OF these being western states, from Kansas to the
coast. Both conventions turned their eyes from these
banners and a deaf ear to the threats and entreatles OF
those who carried them. Both conventions, regardless
OF whether four million or forty million votes were at
stake, said in their party platforms, their assurances to
the nation, that no state or group OF states should be per
mitted to say to any other state or group OF states who
or what elements of their population should vote-that
this question should be left solely to the people of those
states.
Then came the word from Mr.. Hughes that, regard
less of his party platform he would, as president, if elect
ed, ask congress, whose membership was to be chosen
upon these platforms, to disregard them both. Mr.. Will
son, in this instance, stood on the platform OF his party,
even though other candidates did not, and then the wo-
men who carried these banners at Chicago and St. Louis
proceeded to make good, or try to make good, their
threat.
But alas! Those four million women had never au-
thorized the bearers of those banners to speak for them
on the Susan B. Anthony amendment or on anything
else. And every threat that Mrs. Belmont, Miss Paul,
Miss Martin, Miss Vernon and their crusaders made
against Wilson and his party drove more and more Of
these four million voters to Wilson's support. They
made votes for Wilson and votes for Pittman in this state
by the score. And if Wilson is saved, as he probably is.
he is saved by these four million votes that were pledged
to his destruction.
OF these eleven western states, from Kansas to the
coast, every one of them, with a total of o2 electoral votes,
is supporting today the man their women were pledged
to destroy. In 1000 they cast AZ of their then 50 votes
for Mckinley; in 1904 they cast all of them, the whole
%. for Roosevelt; in 1908 they cast 50 of the 50 for Taft,
and in 1912 Mr. Wilson failed to get a majority over
Taft and Roosevelt in a single one of them. And they
stand today with their 62 votes solid for the man who re-
fused to obey the command of those who falsely and
without authority assumed to control them through the
votes of their women.
And now, since it is all over, let us ask, in all kind
ness, who was right, Mr.. Wilson and his party convention
and the republican party cOnvention-or Mr.. Hughes
and those other candidates who Welded to the threats of
these crusaders? Mr.. Wilson says he is in favor of wo-
man suffrage and voted for it in New Jersey. Mr.. Pitt
man said he was in favor OF it and voted for it in Nevada;
and having first voted against the federal amendment be
cause he thought it was wrong, yielded his convictions
and later supported it, Mr.. Plat says he voted for
suffrage in Nevada, and disregarding his party platform
he pledged himself to help to vote it upon the other
states, many of which had already voted it down. Yet
Mr.. Platt and Mr.. Pittman had justification lr
them welded first to the demand and practically instructed
them.
Now let us examine this famous amendment. or pro-
posed amendment. The states that now have woman
suffrage have it because a majority of those already en-
franchised have approved it. And they approved because
they thought the women wanted it. There isn't a state
in the union where the male voters would not confer the
franchise upon the women if they believed a majority of
the women wanted it. There isn't a state legislature that
would not provide a means whereby the women could
express themselves on this question by an advisory vote
and whose people would not cheerfully abide by the re-
suit of that vote and put it into law. In. one instance
this was done, and only eleven per cent of the women
asked for the ballot. "But," say the advocates of the
amendment, why should we go on with this campaign Of
education and secure the ballot state by state. instead Of
by national amendment?' Yet, why without educationa
Michigan voted it down four years ago BY less than 1000,
and after further Education" voted it down again by
nearly 100000. Ohio voted it down by 10000. and after
further Education voted it down again bv nearly 200.
900. And Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota,