The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-06-05
WOMEN ARE

*%@ ##~' WONEN ANL ALT AN1lNUs S
A recent newspaper interview given by Mrs.
Howard R. Wood, wife of our Lieutenant Gov
ernor, calls to mind that the women Of North
Dakota have begun to consider the means Of
preparing and educating themselves for the
new duty that will soon be placed upon them,
that involved in the full right Of franchise.
For years the women of this state have strug-
gled to secure this right. The memory of the
trickery in the state senate that encompassed
the defeat of the resolution calling for a sub
mission to the people of the state the proposed
amendment to the constitution giving women
the right to vote, will not soon be forgotten. The
picture of that faithful band of women, who had
struggled for years, leaving the senate, their
eyes streaming with tears, still lives in the
minds of many of the spectators of that scene.
No man, though he opposed suffrage, found
either pride or satisfaction, in seeing women
wives and mothers-leave the legislative cham
Der in such sorrowful detection, or found any
excuse in him own heart for the infection Of
such bitterness upon their tender sensibilities.
Most men felt that women's tears are called
forth by enough suffering and anguish, without
adding to the causes.
That was the picture of the old. gang legisla-
ture. In 1917 the Nonpartisan League came
into power and passed the resolution. Again,
in 1919, as required by the constitution, the
legislature passed the resolution a second time.
Now the amendment will be voted on by the
people, November 1920. .@
It seems certain that the amendment will be
approved. Women, the wives and daughters of
farmers, have been the backbone of the new
program and have done a tremendous service
to their state in sustaining and UNFOLDING the
men of the state in their work of reform and re-
construction. The same women have been found
as vigorously at work in support OF the states
activities for war relief and in support of the
I'LL. CLal>. =. 49, --1,Lo,,4;o-o ~ H. xr,o1
Without their tremendous impulse, the men
alone would have cut a sorry figure.
Hence women have every reason to expect
that they shall soon possess the right to vote,
and in that belief, the beginning to prepare
themselves for it. This is not to intimate that
they lack either intelligence now or have lacked
it. When the youth approaches his twenty-first
birthday, he, if he is at all thoughtful, begins
to inquire as to the methods and policies OF
government, and the plans of parties. The par
ties organize clubs and these are vertitable
schools of citizenry-one-sided, perhaps-but
not the less instructive.
Women have never been called upon to be
interested in politics and have, as a whole, Civ
en- civil government little study. If they are to
do the same good work they did as supporters
Of the new laws in this state and as they did
as supporters of the federal government iii war,
they must equip themselves. To gain that
equipment will require study and schools. =
The wives, sisters and daughters Of the mem
bers and friends of the Nonpartisan League and
it's program are to be given their opportunity
to study the political conditions Of the state.
The Women Auxiliary of the League is organ
lied and already in many places these a~uxiliar-
les are meeting to listen to talks on the laws
and to discuss freely the process Of govern
ment. In this manner will they fit themselves
for their share in the government.
The League not only opens the portal OF free
dom to them but it welcomes their keenest
scrutiny and their Judgment upon what it has
been trying to do. 1t says to them: This is
how we wish to maintain liberty and preserve
democracy; this is how we believe we can make
life easier and better for you and your children
this is how we plan for education and indus
try. With your assistance, we may do even
better; without your support we can do little.
Having admitted women, with uncovered head,
the League stands and waits, without fear,
their judgment.