The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-09-30
PRESIDENT ASKS
SENATE TO PASS
SUFFRAGE BILL
CONTINUED From Page ~

party issue involved in it. Both of our
great national parties are pledged, ex-
plicitly pledged, to equality of suffrage
for the women of the country. Neither
party, therefore, il seems to me, can
Justify hesitation as to the method Of
obtaining it or can rightfuily hesitate
TO substitute federal initiative for state
initiative, If the early adoption OF this
measure is necessary to the successful
prosecution OF the war and il the
method OF state action proposed in the
party platforms Of 1910 is impracticabe.
within any reasonable length OF time, II
practical at all And its adoption is,
IN my judgment, clearly necessary to
successful prosecution OF the war and
the successful realization of the objects
Tor which the war is being fought,
This Is Peoples War.
THAT judgment | take the liberty Of
urging upon you with solemn crncStncSs
for reasons which | shall state very
frankly and which | shall hope will
seem as conclusive TO you as they seem
TO me.
"ThiS is a peoples war and the pcO-
pies thinking constitutes its atmoS,
phere and morale not the predictions
OF the drawing room or the political
considerations OF the caucus II we be
indeed democrats and wish to lead the
world TO democracy, we can ask other
peoples TO accept IN proof OF our sin
cerlly and our ability to lead them
whittier they wish to be led nothing
less persuasive and convincing than our
actions Our professions will not sui.
ilce. Nerification must be forthcoming
when yeriiicatlon is asked for. And IN
this case veriication is asked for
asked for in this particular matter
You ask by whom2 Not through dip
lomatic channels; not by foreign mln-
iSters Not by the intimations OF par
liaments. II is asked for by the anxious,
expectant, suffering peoples with whom
we are dealing and who -re willing to
put their deStinies IN some measure in
our hands. il they are sure that We
wish the same things that hey do.
womans Sphere Changed.
81 do not speak my conjecture. /,
is not alone the voices Of statesmen and
OF newspapers that reach me and the
voices of foolish and incorporate agl-
lators do not reach me at all Through
many, many channels have been
made aware what the plain, struggling
work-a-day folk are thinking, upon
whom the chief terror and suffering OF
this tragic war falls They are look
ing to the great, powerful famous
! democracy OF the west TO lead them to
the new day for which they have so
long waited; and they think, in their
logical simplicity, that democracy means
that women shall play their part in al
lairs alongside men and upon an equal
footing with them. II we reject meas
ures like this IN ignorant defiance Of
what a new age has brought forth, O.,
hat they have seen but We have not
cy will cease to believe in us; they
viii cease TO follow or to trust rs.
Older Nations Aecede.
They have seen their own govern
ments accept this Interpretation OF
democracy-Seen old governments like
that OF Great Britain, which did not
profess to be democratic, promise read
| ily, and, as OF course, this justice to
women, though they had before re-.
fused il the strange revelations OF this
war having made mapy things new and
plain 10 governments, as well as TO
peoples
"Are We alone to refuse TO learn the
lcSson' Are we alone 10 ask and
take the utmost that our women can
give-Service and sacrifice OF every
kind and still say we do not see what
title that gives them to stand by our
sides in the guidance OF the affairs
OF their nation and ours
Couldn't Win Without Women.
1--WE have made partners Of the women
in this war-shall We admit them only
to a partnership Of privilege and right
This war could not have been fought
either hy the other nations engaged or
by America, II 1t had not been ior the
service, OF the women-ScrviCeS rem,
dered IN every sphere-not merely in
The fields OF effort in which We have
been accustomed 10 see them work, but
wherever men have worked and upon
the very skirts and edges of the battle
itself We shall not only be distrusted
but shall deserve to be distruSted II we
do not enfranchiSe them with the full
est possible eniranohiSement, rs il /,
now certain that the other free nation,
will eniranchiSe them We cannot $50
late our thought and action in such q
matter from the thought Of the rest Of
the world. We must either conform
or deliberately reject what they propose
and resign the leadership OF liberia
minds 10 others.
Magic TO Spirits
"The women OF America are too noble
and too intelligent and too devoted Ia
he SlackefS whether you give or with
hold this thing that is mere justice but
! know the magic il will work in their
thoughts and spirits ii YOU give II To
them propose it as | would propose
10 admit soldiers 90 the suffrage, the
men fighting in the field for our lib
critics and the liberties Of the world
were they excluded. The tasks OF the
women lie at the very heart OF the war.
and | know how much stronger that
heart will beat II you do this Just thing
and show our women that you trust