The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-18
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM A TION
RURE AU
FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. Director,
Washington. D. c..
UNDIsCouRAGED sUFFRAGIsT.
Washington. D. C.

believe that the federal amendment
enfranchising women will be passed
at this session of congress. They DO
not doubt that the prophecy made
years ago by Susan 3. Anthony Will
come true-namely, that all American
polls would be open to women in 1871.
But they also know that between now
and the first of next March they have
got to work hard.
Forty-eight hours after the suffrage
amendment failed to pass the senate,
every suffragist of prominence had
left Washington. There was no longer
anything to be gained by remaining
here. From now on the campaign is
to be carried forward in other sections:
Mrs Gait, chairman of the National
Woman Suffrage association, summed
up the situation in the following
words:
I'VE shall continue to present proof
of the demand of the people or the
United States for the passage OF the
American woman suffrage amendment
as a war measure The presidents
stand upon the question has given
great impetus and a better under
standing of the work that lies before
us. The additional proof we shall
present will involve a great deal OF
work and hardship, but suffra gists
have shown that they are afraid OF
neither.
There is no doubt whatsoever
about the final result of the campaign
for the federal amendment. We shall
take hand in some of the congress
sional campaigns now in progress. We
shall make no announcement to the
public as to the nature of our work
in these campaigns. Four years have
brought US the difference between 35
and 81 votes in the senate. We lack
only two. A little more patience, and
victory will come to our cause"
Mrs. Gait, as chairman Of the ma
tiona1 woman suffrage association,
which is a nonpartisan organization
takes the attitude that the defeat of
the amendment was due to both par
ties. 1t is sectional, rather than a
partisan question, she declares. The
entire west and middle west, from
Canada to the Gulf, stands, almost
without exception, for the federal
amendment. The Atlantic seaboard,
from Maine to Florida, stands, with
few exceptions, against it. Republican
Massac husetts in the senate and Dem
ocratic South Carolina worked hand in
hand, to defeat the measure. On the
other hand, Democratic Colorado ana
Republican Michigan worked as
staunchly for it. at is a drawn battle
between progress and conservatism
between democracy and autocracy
right here in our own land" says Mrs.
| Gait.
When asked if the presidents atti-
| tude had not greatly lessened the Bit
| terness of defeat, Mrs. Gait said: Yes,
| it has been a Salve for our wounded
spirits, especially since suffragists
were disa appointed, not only on their
| own account, but because their nation
had been shamed before many small
nations of the world and some of the
| large ones, who have expected more
noble and generous conduct"
| Members of the national woman
party, on the other hand, attribute
| the defeat of the amendment solely to
the Democratic party. The Democratic
party had the power to pass the meas
| ure. and it didn't do it. Moreover,
more Republicans than Democrats
voted for it, and. anyway, the policy OF
the national woman's party is to fight
| the party in power. They are very
much gratified by the presidents in
| terest in the matter. which they at
| tribute entirely to the effect of their
pickets before the White House. AS
soon as the president exerted his in
| fluence for the passage of the amend
ment, the national woman's party
| magnanimously forgive him and came
| graciously forward with letter OF
| thanks.
There will be no more picketing,'
| declared a member of the party a
| few days ago. ut has accomplished
its purpose. The president is convert
ed. and we shall not campaign against
| him any longer"
There is some difference of opinion
| between the National Woman Suffrag e
| association and the National Woman's
| party as to this, the national assoc1a-
| ton having had nothing to do with
| the picketing. Indeed, the older party
| has been strongly opposed to any form
/ of militancy from the beginning. But
| with the picketing over. the two par
| ties have but one ambition, and that
| ambition is to go out into the congress
| sional districts and bring back the
necessary two votes for suffrage te
| suffra gists and the suffragettes are
| still strained, but it is rumored that
the twain may yet unite to accomplish
this end.
Fortunately, for the suffrage cause
several vacancies will occur in the
senate next month. Senator Benet
of South Carolina, who voted agains
the amendment and contradicted tn.
presidents assertion that it was a wal
measure, holds his seat only until the
November election. He was defeated
in the recent primaries by Mr.. w. P
| Pollock, whose attitude on the suf'
frage question is unknown. Inquire:
| by suffra sists are now being made
| with a view to capturing Mr.. POLLOCK
for the "aye" vote.
Senator Baird of New Jersey. wht
also voted against the amendment
is contesting the November cleo
ton in his state with the Democratic
candidate, Mr.. Charles orion Hen
messy, who is strongly in favor Of
woman suffrage. There is every evi
dence that the women intend to cam
paign New Jersey. Senator Drew, an
other dissenter, holds his seat in the
senate only until November. One O
the men running for this seat is al
enthusiastic suffra sist, and the othel
has not yet announced his attitude OF
the question.
These are only few of several op
portunities which the suffragists SCI
for returning favorable votes to con
gress. The vacancies occurring in suf
frage states they are leaving to tn,
women who already have a vote. It i
asserted that Senator Borah from thu
suffrage state of Idaho, who votet