The sun., 1919-04-13


feeling. Among these orators will be
women chosen for their gifts and
training in the art Of clear, forceful
and convincing speech.
1t is a new art for the women of
America English women have pre-
coded them in the path OF eloquence
turned TO political account. Fluency
demonstrated by the Caudle lecture
has been granted women Of all nations
as gift as inalienably theirs as home
making. That her arguments are
potent is wrapped In the accepted
proverb concerning woman's mightiest
weapon-her tongue. But women's
oratory focused upon the election OF
candidate for high office is novel in
all countries and pristine In the eyo-
luton of woman as a factor Of public
life in the United States.
The first efforts in this ambitious
direction are. not records of sweeping
victory. Mrs. CORVALLIS West. re-
ferred to oftener by her former title.
Lady Randolph Churchill, essayed
public addresses during her sons cam
Po'SH. opponents VI ucE SON POLITICAL
aspirations derisively quoted the argu-
ment, DO vote for my son. He's such
n nice man." turning the maternal
forensic weapon against himself
The Suffrage Training school.
But suffrage campaigns have been
training schools for women in the art
of effective expression. The desire to
win listeners to the side of votes for
women has developed dormant powers
OF eloquence. That training school has
graduated group well equipped for
the task of leading thought and sway
ing emotions.
Already the admirers of this group
arc linking its individuals with names
that are synonyms for effective
oratory. There is. by this analogy, a
feminine Elihu Root. Chauncey NJ.
Depew has a woman double in
eloquence. EX-President William II.
Taft finds correspondence in a
woman who has equal powers Of per-
suasive argument, bulwarked by en-
gaging personality. There is. potential
campaign directors say, a woman
William Jennings Bryan. Will Hays,
the new chairman Of the Republican
party, is not more convincing than a
certain spellbinder in a picture hat,
who later on shall be named. The
oratorical helpmeets in all, it is
claimed for them land this not only
in political conferences), are adequate
in every respect.
student and critic Of the long
styled emotional sex" must admit a
surprising disclosure. The emotional
sex" is not of the emotional school of
oratory. The tears and tremolos, SO
impressive in the family circle. woman
leaves behind when she turns the
doorkey of her home.
Tears are escapable. One may flee
from them. Males of the human
species often do. But cool logic is as
incontrovertible as death. "You can't
cry them into the light, but you can
lead them" We may imagine an
astute leader saying to the first volun-
teers for public speaking for suffrage.
Preparation is needful. Be sure Of
your facts" we may consider to have
been one of the earliest warnings. Well
have women learned these rudimen-
tary lessons. TI-y cannot be shaken
by any contrary wind of argument,
they cannot be broken upon the wheel
of ridicule; because they are sure Of
their facts.
The late Inez Milholland Boissevain,
martyr to her zeal for converts to the
cause. who died from exhaustion while
on a cross continent tour for the Con-
gressional Union, was an example of
this sure of your ground policy. l saw
her heckled at a meeting at Cooper
Union. The fine young woman, like a
lily in grace, like pine tree In stately
strength. answered the questions that
were hurled at her.
Some were ignorant, some insolent
but the young woman who was a tower
OF strength in the cause. replied with
imperturbability and with an effect of
tlnality. Her answer brought the duo
to a full stop. She turned her great
Juno-like eyes calmly upon the audi
ence, awaiting another salvo. By such
unbreakable spirit are victories won.
The Senatorial Quality.
Mrs, Carrie Chapman Gait has been
characterized as "the woman Of Sena-
torial quality" In manner as in speech
she is grave, analytical, authoritative.
Her fragility of person suggests a
deeply spiritual side. Yet this quality
Mrs. Gait chooses to ignore as one that
Is accidental. She depends upon the
intellectual appeal Her gravity. her
cool analysis, her manner of quiet au-
thority, are compelling. Nor is hers
the temporary grasp upon her hearers
of that oratory that is ephemeral. She
prompts an audience to think. She
holds It in the grip Of thought. She
sends 1t away thoughtful. She 1t is
who is termed "the woman Elihu
Root"
A different type of oratory is DR..
Anna Howard Shaw's. The venerable
leader is a Doctor of Divinity. In her
youth and the meridian OF her life. she
was an ordained minister. Yet no
mantle Of pulpit solemnity enwraps
her. She opens, her arguments with an
engaging smile that Is half camara-
derie. half roguery, She has a conf
derdal, let as understand each other
and ali 'wIll be well manner, by which
the audiences are instantly half won.
She Is the woman who gets closest
TO the hearts Of. her audiences. And
presently, as Is. The. way Of hearts,
;hey are obeying her win. Her pulpit
experiences servts her well. She is a