The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-06
new DEMAND IN
WOMEN RIGHTS
after The War
In England Females to Out
number Men Million.
Keynote Will Be Their Han
ding of Masculine Jobs.
MAKE MOST MUNITIONS NOW
Recruiting Feminine Army to
Do EngIand's Farming.
ElectOrally Suffragettes VIII
Control the British Isles.
BY CHARLES p. STEWART.

London, April 6.-WOmen Will nave
a great deal to say about running
England after the war. If they get
the vote they will rule England's cleo
torate. as there were 100000 more
British women than men before the
war.
The suffragettes abandoned militant
tactics when fighting began with the
Germans, but they have been conduct
ing an educational campaign ever
since.
It's keynote has been the thorough
advertisement of the extent to which
women have taken the places of the
men At the front. Since women can
do mems work. the suffragettes argue
why weren't they entitled to the fran
chise on the same footing with men?
There is no theory about this prOpo-
sition. 1t is practical. The women
aetualiy are doing work it used to be
taken for granted only men satisfac-
torily could do. In a good many in
stances, it Is conceded, they are doing
IT better than the men did The coun-
try, too, is mighty glad to get them. 1t
is begging for their help.
Munition making is largely in wom-
ems hands. Women are rapidly tax
ing over the positions of the mer
street car and bus conductors.
Tackle Farming. Too.
Women are acting as ticket sellers and
choppers.
y women's army is being recruited
to do England's farming. Women
clerks are behind the counters of the
retail stores of all kinds
Women chauffeurs are numerous
Women run delivery wagons
Women are doing all sorts of cler-
ical work in banks, wholesale houses.
insurance offices and counting rooms
generally.
This drafting of women has been
far more general on the European
continent than in England. On the
continent, however, there has been no
such corresponding effort on the won-
ems part to get value received for
their wartime help, in the form of
subsequent political concessions.
How Can Govt Refuse.
After all women have done during
the war, it is hard to see how Eng
land can refuse what they demand
later. AT any rate, it is a safe con-
clusion that they will get a respectful
hearing when they present their
claims next time, instead of the con-
temptuous dismissal which their eff
forts met before the great European
struggle.
Comment by the new women work
ers, too, shows that suffragette rep
reservations are making an impress
sion on the rank and file.
Ihe next demand, consequently, will
be no more dilettante movement In
stead, it viii come from the women
who have done as much as any man II,
the field to aid the country in an
emergency, whose services and sacri-
fices already have been publicly re-
cognized and who can speak, and act.
with a genuine determination never
hitherto Characteristic of suffragette-
ism in England.
War Takes Million Men.
If they fail to get what they want.
it will be surprising. Should they
get it, England will be ruled, cleo
torally, by women.
Census figures show that, before the
war there were about l 100000 more
women than men in the British Isles
After the war, between the losses of
men in the field and the expected
heavy emigration, which will be large
ly of young, unmarried men, the dis
proportion will be still larger-per-
haps another 100000.