New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-29
FOR INTELLIGENT VOTERS
Male or Female, Alien or Native Bo,,
Should Pass a Test
To The Editor Of The Tribune.

10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Not TO be outdone by "a Mere Va,
er's" generslltics, should like to obssr,.
that the scope Of human ineficicncy 4, b..,
seen in two spheres Of influence von,,
in the home and the man in politics.
To run house we'll or Ill requires mu,l
attention, and II woman has not "conpst.a1
with man for political power throughout IA.
centuries, II Is solely because she Ia. M,
had the time for H.
In tho matter Of daytime leisure the AVER.
age man has the advantage over the sveax.
woman. Who makes the crowd that l,t.n,
to street takers, that watches window dem.
onstrations, that runs 10 Are, that gather,
around an accident, that leans over rail
vaudeville houses for the morning and after
noon shows, that sits for hours looking
through hotel windows?
The wives and mothers Of the men that do
these things would be charmed TO do them.
too, but they haven't the time On the Other
hand, tho women of leisure who attend sale,
high brow and sentimental matinees, leet,
ures, concerts and exhibitions have menfo,s
too busy for street and vaudeville diversions
do not pretend TO know why this should
the balance Of labor.
"Mere Voter" refers to the Divine
prophecy: "He shall rule over thee" Al
but does he? That is a secret every woman
knows-and doesn't tell
Also. does "Mere Voter" think men rule
over themselves politicaly7 Is he convinced
that his vote brought the result he vas told
it would IL he voted for Smith instead Of
Jones?
Every attempt to introduce some test for
standard of intelligence for the franchis.
is furiously opposed as un-Americsn. In the
name Of logic, why? Because the carly set.
tiers, men Of one race and tongue, had each
voice in the affairs Of small radius, does
it follow that each man should have voice
under Numerically opposed conditions,
Surely, if the franchise Of a people Is 10
signify anything, it must be the intelligent
expression Of the electorate; but our sys-
tenn of government is so complicated its
workings so obscure, its opportunities for
malfeasance so unlimited. that the honest
voter is in despair and the Indifferent one
frankly sells his vote, with the feeling that
he has 81 out of ii anyhow.
IF brief manual could be compiled in the
question and answer style, outlining our sys-
tenn of government, its officers and their
functions, from the President and his Csb-
net to the village board Of trustees, and II
this catechism could be used in oral or writ
ten examination for the test Of voters ht-
ness, then the first step in efficiency and
economy in our administration Of public af-
fairs would be taken. The test would be en-
tirely democratic and impartial; under it the
intelligent alien, man or woman, would vote,
and the unintelligent or indolent native, man
or woman. would not. This would solve the
problem of woman's suffrage and break the
petty politician. The high-up CRATER, Of
course, is hardly ever reached.
II "Mere Voter" wishes 10 vote intelligent
" next November, let him spend the inter
vening months convincing himself Of the
need of such a political catechsm as ! de-
scribe. II that is too much trouble. com
mend the following incident TO his attent on;
A delightful woman, whose charm has cone
much for the cause Of womsn's suffrage
proving Aristotle's assertion, that chsr'
acter gives TO argument a weight not inner
emit to IT," listened to the indignant protests
of her son-aged fourteen-against the uh-
seemlness of womans voting.
Look at Birdie Brown singulary
ompty-headed child of his own age-'s TEL
low would be ashamed 70 be seen going into
..,,..o .oI1ipo plara With her"
well" said his mother, with her unSn.
swerable smile, you wouldn't be ashamed u
be seen going with me, would you
mo" was the reply, and with a sneep"'
grin: "I'd let you tell me how to yote.
MARTA LEONARD.
New York, Jan. %, 1917.