New-York tribune., 1918-01-09
A Constitution for Women


A year ago suffrage was an utterly for.
lorn hope in Washington. 1t could muster
bare majority in the House, but that
| was all. To-day it is ON the edge of sue
cess, gaining fresh support daily. 1t will
receive the necessary two-thirds vote in
, the House, it is now predicted. Its fate
III the Senate depends largely upon the
decision i'll the House. Opposition is plain
!, y collapsing, and the only question: as it<;
opponents concedc, is how soon, whether
this week or next, whether at the present
session or the following, the requisite two
thirds vote will be recorded.
This swift response of Congress to the
will of the people, stimulated and inspired
by the lessons of the war, is an encourage
ing sign. There arc undoubtedly some pol
1tlclans in Congress- who will vote for suf-
tragc against their Judgment and simply
to save their political skins. But the gen.
eral shift in opinion obviously rests on
broader grounds The decision of New
York was more than an isolated victory
tor group of women. 1t was a sign and
symbol of a changing attitude Of mind, of
that lvened faith in genuine dcmocracv
IN all the citizens of a state, women as
well as men, which the democracy of the
trench and the munition plant has
brought home to us as no time of peace
ever did.
1t is a forlorn stand that the few re-
naming antls are making against this GER
talnty. One by one their arguments have
been destroyed by relentless facts. 1t is
some time since we have heard that wom
ans place was in the home When she is
OF patriotic necessity on the battlefield,
III hospital, in nunition factory, such cant
appears the unquestionablc nonsense that
1t always was. The one plea now is:
Wait. Do not disturb the existing gov
ernment. Women have pacifistic leanings.
This is no time to risk their vote on war
issues. Wait until the war is over before
you make the change
Well, Premier Borden enfranchised
women in Canada in order to preserve an
Acxlsting war government. That was his
nope IN giving the vote to the women rea-
tlves OF soldiers. And his faith was iusti-
fed: Women voters rallied valiantlv to
the cause of courage and patriotism and
contributed notably to the Allies most
important popular victory of the war. AS
"The Daily Mail and Empire" of Toronto.
said Of the election:
OF its women and of its West Canada
has great reason to be. proud. The West
dld magnfcently, and it is impossible to
.render sufficient praise to our women.
Those who had the suffrage exercised it
tor their countrys honor and glory, and
hosts of women who had not the suffrage
labored incessantly in this campaign in be-
half Of union government and our defend
ers overseas The country is cverastngly
indebted to their patriotism.
The same trust in the women of Amer
lea spoke in the ballots of New York's
soldiers. They voted almost 2 to l for
the suffrage amendment In fact the
existence OF war, taking abroad where
they can with difficulty influence opinion
several millions Of our best men, is an
added and urgent reason for enfranchis-
ing women. 1t is the letter home that
tells most vividly and accurately the wishes
and needs of our men at the front. 1t is
eminentiy right that the mothers and wives
who receive those letters should be able to
voice their demands at the polls.
We do not believe that those demands
VIII show American women to be one whit
less patriotic, stanch and courageous than
men. Their point of view will differ; thew
will stress different elements in life and
conduct. We suspect that they may prove
to be less impressed by formulas and ira
dltlon and the tlub-dub of diplomacy. We
nope SO, at any rate. But does any one
really think that when an issue of right
and wrong has once been laid down women
will prove less courageous, less resolved
than men in fighting for that principle to
the bitter end? Has any one honestly held
such thought i'll world that has known
Joan Of Arc-and Edith Cavell?
1t is a splendid thing that the American
Legislature is thus responding to the demo-
cratic spirit of the time. We cannot show
the way to Canada, or, in all probability.
to England. But we can keep abreast of
the liberal currents about u.s. we can ro-
lect the tlmid fears of "stand- -patters. We
can meet the most stirring and changeful
of all periods in the worlds history with
imagination and vision. As first stroke
IN our new progress and reform there
rightly comes the cause of women. It is
new justice that we plan in our social
order 1t is new service that we de-
mand of all citizens. Both Justice to
women and service from women must be
built upon that new charter Of their rights
which it is the privilege and duty of Con.