New-York tribune., 1918-03-07
Democratic Victory Called
Endorsement Of Wilson
War Policy
Local Issues Believed
Submerged at Polls
MRS. Tiffany Declares Re-
suit Was Rebuke to Sen
sic Republicans

Was it President Wilson or Tam
many Hall?
Did the election of four Democrats
Representatives prove that the women
Of the city stood solidly behind the
Democratic Administration In the con-
duct OF the war, or did it prove that
rammany Hall had been more ener-
eetic than its opponents in organizing
the women voters? These were the
questions that interested politicians of
both sexes yesterday, and, like all po-
itical questions, were answered IN
variety of ways, no definite conclusions
being arrived at.
Miss Adeline Sterling. secretary of
the Woman Suffrage Party, who is her
self a Democrat, although the organl-
zation is non-partisan. was emphatic IN
her declaration that the women cast
patriotic and not political votes.
Calls 1t Patriotism
1T was the patriotic issue which ap-
pealed to the women" she said. They
demonstrated their desire to stand be-
hind the President and forget purely
political issues. l say this from my
general knowledge of how the suffra
gists of the city feel and from my par
ticular knowledge of conditions in my
own district, the 14th Election District
of the 18th Assembly District. There
| know that practically no electioneer-
ing was done by the Tammany Hall
leaders among the women. l didn't do
any myself. and l am known as Dem
ocratic worker in the district
Sutfragists generally agreed that the
vote demonstrated a commendable in
dependence on the part of women vot-
ers, many of those who would normally
have been Republicans voting the Dem
ocratic ticket in order to stand behind
the Pres dent and stolidly resisting the
plea to vote for Mrs. Mamie Colvin on
the ground that she was woman.
We've squelched that silly idea that
we women would stand for a woman
just because sne was woman" said
Mrs. John Blair.
the men thought there would be a
large complimentary vote for Mrs. Col
in. but we women knew better. We
don't approve OF women running for
office. except when the woman has a
definite reason or is better candidate
than any of the men. Mrs. Colvin is a
good woman. and bright woman, but
prohibition as an issue is not strong
enough 70 interest the women. They
knew it was practically settled in thi 5
country. anyway. Besides. they knew
Mrs. Colvin could not possibly win, and
they did not propose to waste their
first votes that they worked so hard to
get
The only demurring voice in the gen
eral chorus IN praise of the "patriotic
vote cast by the women came from
Mrs. Charles l.. Tiffany, chairman of
the Borough of Manhattan of the Wom-
an Suffrage Party. Mrs. Tiffany toured
the entire 21st district in her automo-
oileNon Tuesday morning and discov-
cred the Democratic women workers
out in much stronger force than the
Republicans.
1T looks TO ne as if Tammany had
grip on the women voters that the
Republicans failed to get" she said.
"The poor people of the country are
dent Wilson, because he has shown
him self their friend so many times It
may be that this was the influence
working in the minds of the voters
yesterday, but I believe from what I
saw that it was political work done in
the districts by Democratic workers
that determined the result. believe
that many voters did not consider the
war issue at all, but were influenced
ry local conditions"
Although women generally expressed
themselves as delighted with their
treatment at the polls, declaring "poli-
tics was SO polite it was painful" and
that voting was much milder than
buying sugar" Mrs. Charlotte NJ. Little
field. Democratic leader of the 1st As
sembly District of Brooklyn, started
yesterday on a crusade to clean up the
polling places.
'Voter4 were obliged to stand an
kledeep in hair in barber shops, and
70 inhale deadly germs in old furniture
and upholstery stores," she said. 'Tt
the voting places we're in public
schools women would have a guarantee
OF their sanitary condition and tho
state would save something like $500
N rent IF this is a form of politica]
graft It should be abolished, and I an
going TO start a crusade against it,
Calls Republicans Rebuked
Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw, chairman
Or the Woman Suffrage Party of the
state Of Now York, saw in the election
Of four Democratic Representatives 3
rebuke 10 the Republican party for tho
attltpde Of certain prominent Rcpub
lican Senators toward the Fedora
amendment.
Mr. o. II. p. Belmont. Chairman o.
The Aatlonal Woman's party for New
YORK State, came up from Palm Beach
where sne has been campagnin,
among the milionaires for funds t,
push the Federal amendment through
tre senate, in time 20 comment on tn,
NeW York womcn's vote She differed
with Mrs. Iaidlaw over the party re
1ponfibAlty for the delay in the Sen
ate
"tvery day Republican Senator's ar
mixing speeches. With Bring out tha
amcndmeHt as the keynote" she said
ard zre Democratic party persists i.
lfs policy Of hcsitating and compromis
ing. trust that the women's vote il
lrss Tork wili servc as a reminder Il
N u fnat women are no longer politi
cat3y hcips"9H, and will hold responsi
lie any parry tnat blocks or postpone
f1etlce % women."
Republican party leaders we're in
esined 10 attribute the Democratic vic
tory - iaudable and patriotic dcsir.
en- The part of Voters, male and female
- upnoid fhc President. Democratic
iea6ers. howeger. insisted that the VIC
tora had Deen favored by the fcminin.
fD'esa because Iammauy had the beg
9rfsaatzation.
a'sfa States Mar4bai Thomas Nc
at'eY van fdree su,te Of clothes ~
fpf s.ctory ~ Jeromc f. Donovan II
tte lff leaHr~gs District Hence. hi
"'snt'4 raf y" falrh as agtnoritativc