The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-11-22
I LEY TAKE HOLD
LIKE OLD HANDS

The non-partisan method of cam
laughing in which an organization
gives its support to candidates ir-
respective of party and only on the
Ground that they support proposals
satisfactory to the organization, was
successfully used by New York State
women in the first election in which
they figured as voters.
For six weeks previous to the No
vember election, the Woman's In
ternational League, a New York
state organization, conducted re-
markable campaign for Congress
men who were willing to support
their program for world reconstruc-
ton after the war.
Pointing out that the next Con-
gross would serve from March, 1919,
to March, 1921, and was therefore
the Congress which would help re-
make the world, this woman's or
Eanization sent questionnaires to the
Congressional candidates of all par
ties, asking pointed questions as to
their stand on open diplomacy, dis
armament, the removal of economic
barriers and federation of all ma
tons which should have a legisla-
tive branch made up of representa-
tives elected by the people.
AS soon as answers from all can
didates in given district were re-
oeived, the results were printed on
circulars and shipped back to the
district for local distribution. In
districts where the Socialist candidate
made a showing notably superior to
the Republican and Democratic can
didates, the Socialist organization
took charge of the distribution. In
districts where the Democratic can
didato made good, the circulars
were mailed out by the regular
Democratic committee.
In one Republican District, the
18th, the defeat of the Democratic
candidate, Herbert c.. Pell, Jr. was
regarded as certain because he had
been double crossed by his party
rachine. He had a 100 per cent
record on the Leagues International
p ogram, and during the last three
days Of the campaign thirty men,
hers of the League made house to
house canvass on the basis of this
record alone and are credited with
having turned the votes which elect
ed their candidate. The defeat of
Frederick Tanner, former state chair
man Of the Republican Party, by Mr..
Pell was one of the surprises of the
New York State election.
The fact that no Republican Or
ranzation used the Leagues propa-
panda is explained by the Leagues
report that with but three excep-
tons The Republican candidates re-
ported themselves as definitely OPP
posed to measures necessary for the
removal Of economic barriers, which
the League regards as the crux of
the international problem. No can
ddate, either Republican or Demo-
cratic, was supported who failed to
come up to the Leagues require
ments on this point.
The Women's International League
is the New York State Branch of the
Natjonal Woman's Peace Party of
which Miss Jane Adams of Hull
House is Chairman. 1t corresponds
to the Woman's International League
in England of which Mrs. Pethick
Lawrence is head and is affiliated
with woman's organizations in TWEEN
ty-two countries which are sending
delegates to an international con-
ference of women to be held at the
same time and place as the official
peace conference
The women of New York are start
iNg off right with the exercise of
suffrage. 1t would be we'll for our
country if the people would forget
partisan politics and vote for men
who will put the peoples policies into