New Britain herald., 1917-08-30

opinions on public affairs expressed
by the ballot. they were coolly told
that the black man had earned the
right to vote, that he had fought and
bled and died for his country"
We are in q similar situation to-
day. 1t is true that nineteen states
have granted the full Suffrage, and
that several others have granted a
partial Suffrge: but wherever the
partial Suffrage has been granted 1t
can be taken away at the next meet
it must be incorporated in the state
costitution, by the consent of the ma
jority Of the men in the state
Many women seem to think that all
work for the cause of Suffrage should
be dropped for war work. They point
to England and apparently expect
that events will run in a parallel line
here; but 1t is not SO sure that such
will be the case. The war has been
brought home to England harder
than it now seems likely to be here:
and it might have been lost for Eng
land. If, under the state socialism
that has been practiced there. the
women had not stepped forward and
filed in the gaps left by the men.
Public opinion has taken right
about face there, and it is by no
means sure that the nilftarism of
Mrs. Pankhurst and her followers
injured the cause when we have the
light Of subsequent events I notice
that the chorus of bitter consterna-
ton that was raised against them has
grown faint.
1t appears to me that the women in
this country who believe that their
cause is won and all they have to do
is to sit down and await the final re-
suit are in danger Of reaching that
over-sanguine attitude against which
Susan B. Anthony warned them.
A cause that Is not agitated will
not advance very fast. Action means
life-inaction means death. 1t Is not
necessary to go thousand miles
from New Britain to realize that. It
is also we'll to remember that women
who diffuse their efforts over too
many things, never accomplish much
along definite lines or for any special
cause.
1 will state clearly that I by no
means wish to disparage the work
that Is being done by the women Of
this country for the war, whether
thew are Suffragists or Anti-Suffra-
gists. But I do say this:
If the women who believe in Suf-
frage follow the course of effacement
and silence regarding their cause.
which some of the press of the coun-
trv and various private individuals
through the press, are apusively In
forming them that they should do.
they are liable to find themselves in
exactly the same position as the
suffrage women were at the close of
the Civil war, magnificent work and
heart breaking sacrifices went with
out recognition at that time.
The so-called "militants' at Wash
ington are coming in for q great deal
of unkind notice from the press and
also from other women. The things
which the editors say about them,
however, are mild as milk compared
with the v1tuperat1on, insults and sar-
casm which were lav1shed upon the
Suffragists at the period from which
I am drawing a lesson. So, let us
take courage.
At the present time, all suffragists
peaceful and militant" alike-are
agreed upon the necessity for passing
the Federal amendment. All Suffra-
gists feel also that the Federal Of
ficials might accelerate the passage
Of the bill. There is a difference of
opinion as to methods. The Nation
al Woman Suffrage Organization has
two million members and they be-
lieve that reason and persuasion
alone will bring quick results. Al good
deal of those commodities has been
expended in the past with no start
lingly rapid results.
There appears to be- smaller
group of women who sympath1ze with
Mrs. Patrick Lawrence-the English
militant. She once asked Gin sub
stance) the following question::
eff you had twin babies to feed in
the night and one howled while the
| other waited patiently, which would
get the bottle f1rst?"
I do not pretend to say which
| method is the better Or will bring
| the quicker results. 'Watchful walt
ing may be all right for q while, but
there comes time tor action. These
'militants" may be foolish or ever
jealous. They may be using poor
Judgment or laundering for the lime
light. I believe, however, that, in
| general, they are In earnest and con-
slider they are helping their cause,
and see no reason for the harsh
| criticism to which they have been
subjected. I think the conduct of
the Washington police has been
shameful and a disgrace to them
selves as guardians Of the peace In
! the capital Of our country. Their
! past record is not shining one, for
on the occasion Of the first Suffrage
parade they failed to keep order
! and allowed rowdies and d1sorderly
men to insult the women and disor-
ganize the parade.
I fail to see, wherein these pickets
have done anything culpable. They
have proceeded quietly to the White
House and have stood there neither
! molesting or addressing anyone. They
| have carried the Suffrage colors with
quotations from President Wilson's
snoaches ,non thAnn The only pos