The Washington herald., 1919-09-28
POLITICS
By The Occasional Prophet

Democratic leaders in session at
Atlantic City estimated that the
total Presidential vote in 1920 will
be twice the total vote of 1916.
Women will vote in practically
Sll the States next year.
Only a few of the wiser political
managers have taken in considera-
tion the fact that women may cast
more votes than men. Chairman
Hays of the Republican National
Committee put a woman's depart
ment in operation several months
ago. But at that he didn't beat the
Democrats. They have been giving
special attention to women voters
for eight years and they have had
special committees devoted to
women's interests.
Peculiar conditions surround
women in politics. In some States
they have heretofore lined up with
their husbands. This was true in
1916 in Illinois. Other States show
ed a fair ratio of the husband and
wife voting the same way. but in
California womeE vote absolutely
! independent of their husbands. 1t
was tho vote of the women that
gave California to Wilson. In most
of the Western States the women
may be depended upon to vote their
convictions. In the East it is rea-
sonable to suppose that they will
vote with their husbands. This
means that forecasters can fguf
on the East by simply doubling the
total vote. In the West they must
count on the women going it alone.
The West will he the great battle
ground.
Nothing will please the Democrats
more than to have Mr.. Hays pursue
his policy of trying to win the
southern States of North Carolina
and Kentucky. In North Carolina
1t is expected that very few women
will go to the polls as there is an
tipathy among women there to the
ballot; The same condition pertains
in less degree to Kentucky. Hays
also calculates that he can carry
Missouri. The women Of st. Louis
will take little interest in the cleo
tion. In Kansas City there will be
a lively interest among the women.
The character of the population Is
vastly different. Kansas City women
are more progressive than those OF
st. Louis. A politician from Kan
sas City said the other day that he
believed nine-tenths of the women
of that city were either Democrats
or Progressives. That bodies i'll for
Hays. for his candidate for the
Presidency will be a standpatter. It
goes without saying that IL Hiram
johnson is nominated for President
that the standpat Republicans of
the East will bolt him.
Ohio will be an interesting fight
ing place. The women of Cleveland
are inclined to socialism. more so
than the men. The central part OF
the State Is Democratic, while Gin
cinnati is largely German. and in
families that now have but one vote,
a wife and two or three daughters
to join him.
The Democrats are confident of
holding OHIO. carrying Massachu-
sets. Connecticut and New Hamp-
shire. They haven't much fear OF
losing Kentucky or Missouri. Indi-
cations are that Indiana will be
Democratic because of the Repub-
lican fight in that State. With these
States and the South taken care Of
the Democrats qan safely transfer
their fight to THE West. Much de-
pends upon the treatment accorded
johnson, Borah and Poindexter by
, the standpatters. II the eastern Re-
publicans attempt to ride them
down the Democrats see nothing but
solid West for their candidate.
1t Is going to be the greatest cam
paign in American history. The
women and the soldiers are going
| to make IL SO.