The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-02-08

round, TRENDS. We are not willing
that question of expediency should
take and hold precedence over one of
fundamental principle. The right of
individual suffrage in a democracy is
fan more fundamental than a mere
matter of government machinery like
states rights, and it is indeed queer
situation in a government that claims
to be the most democratic on earth,
TO have the foundation right denied to
half the citizens. because some little
part of doubtful piece of machinery
will be disarranged by any change.
Besides, why is regard for states
rights obligatory upon our congress
men at one time and not at another
States rights was no stumbling block
To our same senators when they voted
for the prohibition amendment last
year, nor did it keep them from en-
Enthusiastically supporting the income
tax amendment, altho' this same doc
trine was involved in both measures.
Oh, no. The urge of popularity was
sufficient in both instances. We would
not mind so much if you political
fence-builders would come out in the
open with your reasons; it is when
you try to dodge behind some high
flown principle" that we get very
weary-and sometimes very much
amused. The proverbial ostrich with
his head in the sand. thinking he is
hidden, is about the best representa-
ticn of the situation that occurs to us
| just now. Sacrificing principle for ex-
pediency! You don't know just how
funny that seems.
You claim, Mr.. Editor, that now,
here in the South, men stand back and
let women have all the easy, best
paying jobs. We do not believe that
the facts will bear you out in this.
Nor do we think it all desirable that
this should be the case. There should
be no discrimination either for or
against because of sex. for it results
in false scale of'values being estab-
lished. The fairest, most stimulating
test is that of efficiency. Remove the
political handicap, make efficiency the
requirement for both men and wom-
en-, give equal pay for equal work, and
we verify believe that balance will
have been struck, and remedy found
for many of the evils that disturb the
world today.
Sometime we have thought that
southern chivalry" has been rather
Ioverplayed, and a false value attach
ed to it. After all. where issthe noble
generosity in men being decently
courteous and considerable to women,
| if they demand in return that women
yield the high privileges of citizen
ship. Tit price is entirely too great,
for women are supposed to be cour-
teous, too, and / think most of them
are. Nor have we noticed such vast
difference in the treatment accorded
women thru the north and west. We
have spent many summers In those
sections, and we have observed that
as rule, women were treated with
uniform courtesy and consideration.
Certainly we have no charge, person
Tally, to bring against our brothers OF
the north and west. And those men
certainly seem disposed to deal out
eyen-handed justice toward their
women. Twenty-one states already
have given presidential suffrage to
women, and many states are on the
Verge of following suit. Soon 1t VIII
| be that only in the southern states do
linen deny to their women the right to
take part in the government that was
called into being by an unconquerable
love of freedom.
But we do not believe that this
state of things can last much longer.
Surely the new day is at hand, and
| it is about time all the Rip Van
Wrinkles were waking up. The thing
that is really troubling US most just
now, is the fact that few reaction
ary editors and BODYBUILDING poll
ticians are making our perfectly good
81 uthern men ridiculous before the
rest of the country, and if our men
don't begin to think seriously about
TIE situation, the federal amendment
is going to be passed with southern
ers still fighting it, and soon our men
will be Inundated by having the priv
lilege and honor of enfranchising their
own women taken away from them
by the men and women of the north
and west. 1t Certainly would be a
great humiliation to the women of the
South, as well, but if our men sit still
and allow themselves to be deceived
by a few politicians, what can the
women do but accept the quickest re-
| lief that offers. We know that we
speak for the vast majority of the
southern women when we say that
we had far rather receive the rights
OF citizenship at the hands of our own
men, and such situation could so
easily be brought about If few
even two-southern senators would
! change their vote before the matter
is carried over their heads in the Sen
ate.
There is one part of your criticism,
Mr.. Editor, that we feel compelled to
lcaIl you to account for. You charge
us with disloyalty TO the South. We
must frankly say that we consider
this an unworthy device on your part
tn carry popular opinion to your side