Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-19

OaStaTdIy limit OF OuTHluS III cluBy
the Chief Magistrate of this nation
upon his return from a triumphal re-
ception by the successful peoples OF
the Old World.
Methinks I see the coy. blandish-
ments of the erstwhile emissary OF
this woman'ss as she trip
ped along yonder corridor interview
ing the members Of this House in
behalf Of the sacred cause. and
moves from here to wider fields and
on historic Boston Common allows
her enthusiasm and exuberance to
reach the stage that heartless police
officers deem a joy ride in patrol
wagon essential for the preservation
Of Boston's peace. (Applause.)
The arguments by way of refuta-
ton which have hitherto been ad-
vanced, and which the logician would
call negative proof would to my mind
seem controlling. but when buttressed
by the direct and positive proof
against this bill. seems overwhelming.
First what is the real test of
democracy in a representative gov
eminent? Manifestly the answer is
a ready and true reflex of the opinion
of the people and their judgment by
their duly authorized and accredited
representatives. In other words
''vox populi, vox del est"
Anything which obscures, confuses
or retards that governmental process
to the extent of the confusing, is an
interference with the true function
ing of q representative government.
And if this measure, weighed by
that test is more calculated to pro-
duce uncertainty as to the majority
will, it's adoption can only be justi-
fed by some compelling argument of
necessity.
Win it tend to a clarification or a
confusion of the true public opinion
of the majority?
Women given the ballot will either
vote or not vote. If they do not vote
with the same relative strength as
men now do. you have simply added
a great potential electorate. whose
will is ever in doubt, whose judgment
is not expressed and who will exer-
else their privilege solely on the &C.
casion of some great stress. when I'M
der emotional influence Of the hour.
they may well be the determining fac
tor against settled policies-which
represent the slow growth of true
progress through generations Of ex-
perience.
On the other hand if they do vote
with relatively equal to man-they
will vote either in accord with their
male environment or in discord.
If in discord. heaven avert the day.
for the ties Of the domestic unit are
already frightened enough. the home
is not inviting additional strain and
if they substantially vote in accord
with their males. you have doubled
the units of the electorate and in fact
the practical politician. That man
who with pencil now traces the check
list to diagnose Thomas. Joseph or
John will all new element to the
equatior--What can Thomas. Joseph
or John do with Mary, Susan or
Kate? My friends. you are begettine
a new type of male politician in our
hall diplomat!
To crystalline in a sentence. this
measure appeals to me as ill-advised
because it will add one more serious
burden to the already strained eff.
cheney Of popular government.
Arguments in support Of this prem
Use naturally group themselves into
two claSSeS-
First: The idealistic or theoretic-
al.
Second: The practical
Idealistic OF theoretical arguments
are compelling or not as dependent
upon the prcjudgment or prejudice of
the hearer. They are necessarily
drawn from concentrations. and be.
ing congratulations may or may not
be sound.
familiar one Of loss of true status
and notwithstanding the frequency OF
use Of this argument until it has be-
come in a sense hackneyed. and de-
spite the weakening of the true force
of the argument by it's sometime in
temperate statement. there does to
me appeal much of force therein.
The comforting Of the privilege OF
suffrage entails its use. it's intelligent,
its enthusiastic use. Any other con-
sequence would be mere idle diluting
of the electorate. It's full use means
full. vigorous participation, in the
battles of peace, means that intense
craftsmanship which is an American
chara cteristic, and which l may con-
hdenty add is an attribute TO which
woman is peculiarly prone. It means
olHerences OF opinion and emphatic
statement thereof. 1t means the line
up. the canvass and the count, and
the pitiless light of criticism and i'm
pudent comment of motives.
Immediately there follows the ar
gument that the will Of any ma ior-
ity is ever dependent upon the power
TO enforce it's DEGREES. Tho sanction
OF all law is finally dependent upon
TINS power to enforce it, and we re-
spectfully submit that a majority de-
cIsion of an electorate unable in the
last analysis to enforce it's will OK
cept by hunger strikes or sex repres-
sion does not appeal to me as an in
stance of particularly vigorous, effec-
tive. practical or permanent democ-
racy.
1t is an elementary law in the nat
ural order that forces work along
the line of least resistance-this is
equally true in the political order
There is and must ever be the sharp
and distinctive difference between
man and woman, of sex. Political is
sues and preferment are matters de-