Gilpin observer., 1919-09-25
Suffrage Leader Says That
Women Distrust Both Parties

are Ou tHc eve OI pOllClcal enfrau-
chisement The National Amend
ment will undoubtedly be ratified
by SO states before the election Of
1920.
Now that women are ready, the
question is, where will they go?
They are not partisan. They have
no political inheritance. They
have considered themselves Re-
publicans or Democrats because
their fathers or husbands are,
but distinctly not from any love
of the party itself. Where will
they go?
The new women voters are
shocked at the high cost of living;
they know what the trouble is.
They know that the men at the
head of the great trusts are grind
ing the people. Everybody knows
that, even the children know it.
The Sherman antitrust law was
enacted to prevent combination,
but it was only enforced on local
milk dealers and other helpless
groups. Why is this? Because men
who are ordinarily brave are not
politically brave. The powerful
corporations contribute vast sums
to the treasures of the political
parties. No politician has the
courage to jeopardize his politi-
cal party and so he votes to "in-
vestigate" and Investigate" and
that is the end of it.
Women care for their families.
They know that it is not right for
the father to toll increasingly
while the family barely subsists.
Women are saying: "If the polit-
cal parties as are now constituted
can not be divorced from beef and
steel without dying, then let them
die" Let us get new party, one
that is not afraid.
When men open their state cam
paigns they have bands and fire.
works, and sometimes little lady
falling from balloon with a par
achute-to enthuse the voters.
The new voters demand, not bands
and fireworks, but lower prices.
and the political party which re-
alizes this will be the successful
party of the near future.
Again, women are unalterably
opposed to war. They said little
about it in 1917, because they
were powerless and because, in
this great land of liberty, not only
was the press censored, and the
lips of men sealed, but people
were chloroformed lest they
should think. Women were silent
observers. They could not help
themselves; they sent their sons
and prayed and hoped. They were
promised league of nations, or
more wars, no more massacre and
slaughter. They were promised
world safe for democracy, safe for
the people, for poor people, for
women, for children.
Then the proposed covenant for
the league of nations appeared
without disarmament-just the
same old alliances which have
been coming up every few hun
dred years. But perhaps there is
something there, you suggest.
which the women can't see. Some
great statesman will surely point
it out, you argue; it must be there.
No, it is not there, for the secre-
tary of war recommends univer-
sal military training, a large
standing army, continued con-
scription and all the other things
which make for war.
When women had no power
they could only weep, but this is
now a day for action, not for
tears. The political leaders say
that no political party can live
which does not accept this So
called league of nations along
with universal training and a
standing army, and side treaties.
Well, let it die!
Why is the present political
party in power? Because he kept
us out of war.
The new woman voter is all
dressed up and no where to go.
The question is: as anyone wise
enough to prepare place for
her?"