Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-06
PICKETING SHOULD STOP

ME HAVE great sympathy with the
women who have been picleting the
White House, but none with their
method. The President is not law.
making body. The pressure brought to
bear, therefore, is not in the nature of a
mandamus to compel a public official to
perform an obvious duty. II is proposed
&c goad him into exercise of his enormous
influence TO compel another and distinct
governmental body to pursue a course OF
action. This procedure is the more in
excusable because the Presidents per.
sonal policy was made distinct issue
in the last campaign, and women in over
whelming numbers supported that policy
IN Commonwealths where they had the
vote.
In ordinary times the hecltling of the
President would be inexcusabe. 1t is the
more objectionable now because he bears
on his shoulders not only the tremendous
burden Of directing this nations partici'
patton in the great war, but also the
supreme task of guiding other nations
and peop.es into full espousal of the
religion of democracy. No other man in
the period of our calendar has been OF
corresponding Importance to the destiny
of human kind. People who love democ
racy and free institutions, even il they
are deprived temporarily Of liberty's full
blessings, are in duty bound. we believe
tc put their enthusiasms behind the Pres
ident, not against him. and they err
grievously, whatever the justice OF their
cause, who assume an opposite attitude.
American and other women have won
their right to suffrage. Touch the heart
of any nation in the pending mighty
struggle, be it Serbia or Belgium, France
or England. and the sacrifice and heroism
of women bubble up. They have done
mems tasks and they have done their
own, too. In Russia they have manned
trenches and put whole armies of men
s
and hands. they have served guns, sue
cored the wounded and trodden the path
of defeat and humiliation along with their
men. In France they have proved their
citizenship. Who can point TO any glori-
Gus achievement of man that there is
not the heroism of a woman to match 1t?
They have inspired morale when inspira-
ton was most needed. The right to sacri-
nee ones self in the nations interest
confers the right to vote. SO rapid has
been the evolution of public thought on
this question that the triumph Of the
cause at the approaching election in New
York is generally assumed. Pennsylvania
ID but q step behind. in spite Of the de-
plorable conjunction OF circumstances
and> elements which led to a temporary
defeat in the last Legislature.
This newspapers enthusiasm for
woman suffrage is well known. 1t is,
we believe. an absolute requisite to the
nnal winning Of good government in this
Commonwealth. It is humiliating to
good citizens to see such a woman
Mary winsor sentenced to a term in Jail,
Where is there better citizen than she
AZ, or one more interested in good govern
ment and democracy? Jail is not the
place for her. But must it not be ap.
parent to her, and TO those who battle
by her side that the method being pur-
sued Is at the best supererogatory? Why
ALLEVIATE public opinion when it is in the
very process OF conversion? Is it not
better to refrain from assertion of privi
& leges at this time than by the extreme
assertion Of them TO give handle to the
Arguments OF the opposition? Surely, in
Al era SO momentous as the present one.
rospect for authority is virtue and not
4 crime. We can understand restiveness
kuadsr injustice. but we cannot under
rtand the policy of jeopardizing the near
}r(,cuph Of q cause by organized and
3rfitaking expression OF that. rsstiveness.
Ths wouasn engaged in picketing can
< eo6n1pIish wonders for the cause by
4 9p4kz1sticiiiy and voluntarily refraining
&n further activity in that direction.