New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-26
First Hand Testimony
How Signatures for Woman Suffrage
We're Collected in Herkimer County

To tho Editor Of Tho Tribune.
Sir, Everett P. Wheeler casts doubts on
tho statement Of the sufr,gists that more
than 90 per cent Of the women approached
signed the petitions asking for tho vote l
used my automobile TO carry my wife and
two to FIVE other suffrage workers in Herki-
mer County seeking the names Of the Herki-
mer County quota. We went to many towns,
Fairfield, Stratford, Old Forge CFulton Chain)
and others, and my wife was captain In
charge Of the 1st Ward in Little Falls. Up
ward of 1000 Of the eounty's $500 names
were gathered directly under my personal
observation.
Frequently the women approached were
ready for suffrage and were waiting to sign
the petitions. In cases where the women did
not know about the matter definitely the
subject was explained to them. If it took
three minutes, or nearly an hour, the effort
was made, till the woman definitely decided
to sign, not to sign or asked for further time
TO consider. Not one in ten refused to sign.
The number obtained was limited merely by
the distances necessary TO be covered and
the time available. About 90 per cent signed
the petitions Of those who could be reached
in the time available.
As to the women's mind in the matter, the
women of Starkville sent word to the suffra-
gist workers through a Red Cross worker
asking for meeting, and a village had q
meeting with five times as many voters pres
ent as there were voters in the settlement.
AS for discrediting the sufragist workers,
Mr.. Wheeler is on ground that it is danger
Gus for him to tread, considering the in
situations which his anti" women in Utica
for example, make in the newspapers, decar-
ing that women have become immoral through
suffrage work.
Mr.. Wheeler does not seem to know that
the most important work of women is the
education of the children; that the most i'm
portant part Of q child's training, from the
viewpoint Of the government, is what it
learns about politics and the practical need
Of political honesty; but that women, with
out direct participation in political affairs,
cannot possibly teach their children either
fundamental or practical politics-to draw a
distinction; therefore. in order that women
may bring up the boys and girls with proper
public knowledge and spirit, the women must
know politics and its practice.
The anti mind is simply a lazy mentality
and some women are simply slackers and
shirkers, whether knowingly or unknowingly
seeking TO avoid duty which their con-
sciences would impose on them if they had
the vote.
Consider Little Falls, right now; the issue
which the local saloon ring has made is "a
Wide Open Town" The local ring would
rot have had the nerve to go out into the
street to pick up a candidate for Mayor
against probably the best Mayor-or among
tho first three-Little Falls has had, and
made the issue wide open" against decent
observance Of the laws, IL the woman had
the vote. The city's mothers Of sons and
daughters have no vote. and the cohorts
think they can conceal the issue from
enough stupid, or worse, men voters to
carry the election.
/ am trying TO remind Mr.. Wheeler that
he owes women the vote for their protection.
DR.. Anna Howard Shaw said here last night,
in closing one Of her great appeals for suf-
frage:
"All I am and have are my country's. That
my country has been unfair to me has taken
out much Of the Joy Of service, but still, It
Is the best country that know, and will
serve her with my all IL need be-"
Imagine a man trying to stand in the way
Of woman like DR.. Shaw, preventing her and
her kind from having their just dues! Suf-
frage is a matter for honest and superior
intelligence, and mental integrity is not an
inherent trait of all men, not by any means.
The double standard Of morality shows where
the proud supremacy of moral ascendency
lies, as between the sexes.
RAYMOND S. SPEARS.
Little Falls, N. Y, Oct. "a, 1917.