The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-31
"Speak for
YOURSELF John"


To The Women Of Memphis:
Once again YOU are listening to milk and honey faHerv from masculine lips
Once again you hear yourself compared to angels with all the angelic attributes
save the wings alone.
You have suddenly become popular and the political acclaim in your behalf has
left you temporarily gddy.
But gradually you are getting your bearings You look about with an appmdng
lamy Of politics.
Reflect a moment. Recall the old ahg: "A friend in need is a friend indeed"
for nffmgcr .
Attic less than a year ago a sdfapponed committee of twenty rich but visionary
mmt Behind closed doors AND WITHoUT YOUR CONSOLIDATION m THE
LEAST, they secretly evolved the city manager bill.
When news of what was under wa among the committee became public a com
mitre from the Memphis Equal Suffrage League asked that a womans suffrage plank
be inserted in the bill. u.s.
You were not popular then. because you had no vote. You we're turned down.
Your request was derfvey termed "a snker' that would defeat the manager bill.
! PAINE WAS A MEMBER OF THAT SECRET COMMITTEE!
Paine was an insduous worker in behalf of that managerial bOOmer and when to
TWardM him. thee committee of one hundred sGnta subcommittee of its members to Nash
vile to work the legislature
PAINE WAS AMONG THOSE PRESENT.
At that time he exhibited none of the tender soitde for your welfare that he now
exhibits. You had n vote then, now
In Nashville efforts we're renewed to insert the Suffrage plank in the city manager
s bill Your representatives pleaded for recognition. WeaPPcaledo deaf ears. A pure
l local suffrage bill which was then prepared was dropped in favor Of broader meas
ue giving presidential and municipal suffrage to women Of the entire state 1t passed.
Back home came the subcommittee and a little later another committee repnsen-
hhvc of the committee of twenty selected, from among their own fold, five men to be
presented to the public as our future municipal administrators
AGAIN YOU WERE DENIED ANY REPRESENTATION WHATEVER.
You see YOU had no vote just at hat time, for the state supreme court wasd determining
whether your enfnnchscmnt was constitutional but
The supreme court upheld the consituionaGty of the ad and YOU BECAME
POPULAR IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE-you ceased to be mere ora-
HNeWAlW wall HoNer-N0ln ad WP power OF the ballot . N HE MEN WIN
TURNED YOU DOWN WERE THE FIRST TO SEEK THE FAVOR OF YOUR
HAND in P0LITRIMONY.
Now Paine says: Zone of the chief reasons why the women of Tennessee were
granted the suffrage was the belief that they would lift public affairs ut of the miro Of
politics"
BUT MR. PAINE RECOGNIZED OUR POTENCY ONLY AFTER, De
SPITE HIS EFFORTS TO THE CONTRARY, WE RECEIVED THE RIGHT
OF BALLOT
Now Mr. Paine says: ut was believed that our influence would lead to the nom
nation of better candidates for office"
fdat belief had been general BEFORE WE WERE GRANTED SUFFRAGE
and the committee which named him a candidate had recognized then the beatd value
they place on our powers nmw we would have named better candidates for office" and
Mr. Pames nmc would have been conspicuous by its absence.
Now Mr.. Paine says: with Paine as mayor the good women know that they
have a general commander in charge who wnlave no purpose except give them clean
and patriotic administration, for which they have been hoping and praying, and which
they arc in a position for the first time to support with their ballot"
Truly, actions speak louder than words Here this sefapponhd guardian OF our
deSlmeS who, though he had eyes, saw us not before our mfmnchement suddenly as
@ts himself as a woudbc sponsor of our welfare,
hh$ eyes YOU have on the spur Of the moment become anunng fascinating,
powerful.
Bm.~memtert that YOU are being vooed with sugar
The WumenS Division of
The Memphis Ticket
J. J.WILLIAMSfOr Mayor
For Commissioners Vote For
&C. BREEDN o. KRUGER EDW. '. SHELLY