Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-20

.htICf the tnrlStlan 8 tears,
After his fights and fears.
After his weary marCh-what them
was rcmindcd of it today in listening to
some reports of the lobby committee down
in Washington. Some of the political women
who had done very effective and spectacular
campaign work before the election were. II
appears. asking the majority leaders in Con
gress what them with regard to certain
measures, with moderate appropriations at
tachcd, which they wished to see put through
in this next short term
The reply was evasve and polite except
from one franker congressman than the rest
Perhaps, said he, ''if you make n big
fuss and holer loud enough for the press
to front page you. and get all your state
representatives worked up, it's possible one
of your bills might get through but you will
have to work might, hard, because we have
lot planned to do already in this short time
involving billions.
THE truth of the matter is the gentlemen
l. of Congress are very much like the di-
rcctors of certain hospital in this town
The hospital had been originally pretty much
endowed by women and two thirds of the
wards had been built by women's bequests
but only two women were allowed on the
board OF management. and they were there
without vote. But as most of the running
expenses the friendly visiting and the social
service wor was due to women. there was
an anomalous body called The Ladies
Aid, which met monthly and worked weekly
TO collect money. materials and interest for
the gentlemen OF the board Of management
TO diSburSe
They enjoyed the work. the ladies' but
could never understand why they were called
The Ladies' Aid They were first, last and
always The Gentlemcn's Aid.
TT WILL be very difficult for the men on
l. any state or federal commission or state
or federal committee to permit the voting
r!tiHens who are women to be anything more
than "A Gentemen's Aid.
Useful creatures to call in for certain
worR-collcction of funds, propaganda, dis.
Interested self sacrifice of the faithful, trot.
ting about kind--but not to sit on hard
headed committees where you have to get
down do to the "brass tackS" of who shall
was struck by the answers that the
Mayor and his cabinet gave the women citi-
"ens who asked now and again--not without
pertinent purpose-"How can we help?"
gentlemen say:
Accept positions on the commissions and
the city boards and learn for yourselves %
instead. the women wero urged to keep
the rules about garbage cans and ash re-.
cePtacles, and to report any lapse of duty
on the part of the police to the City Hall
aud to follow the improvements in the care
"t the insane at Byberry with sympathetic
encouragement.
l. this country democracy will have to be
equal participation BY women on the com
mitteeS and commissions and boards. fed
cral' state, county and municipal. There is
no use baking at it or postponing IT,
The last election taught the women how
TO vote. They were so intent on that thai
Tor whom they voted was a lesser consdern
ton with two thirds Of them. Now. how.
ever. they understand that lesson soon thc
next lesson, the primary election md the
party primaries. will come up If tbcy nre
given fair deal there. well and good, II
they are given no choice that is real choice
rs 1, 10 cnnu'aates. but tn" take it or leave
II policy is repeated, there will be- that
aftermath no one wants as an ideal g.
woman party. s''
IT Mr., Penrose wants it he could do moth
ing quicker to bring il about than ot this
stage to ignore and cause his party leaders
70 ignore the women of his party hv with
holding from them the public rccognition On
tue state and municipal commissions and
committees. gu"
NOV desirable strong big minoriiv
~ party would be for the politics of this
state. it should not be u woman's party. On
tne tn ".HGr hnhd, II TO get what they need for
the children they bring into the world
and the schools they send their children 70
and the state institutions they ronSign their
derellcts TO, the women voters are comnciIed
10 appeal TO tn" commissions and the off
cials from the outside if they have no mower
to make the party slate or 10 choose tbo
party candidates. it is inevitable thai thnv
vi! unite for purposes Of making their viii
That would b" mighty poor nolitics IN tho
part OF IN" present political leaders worse
IN thG end than alternating the Irish vote, or
tnc GerhnGn vote, or the Jewish vote. or
OFFENDING the Catholic clergy. or "knockirg''
Wall street 1t would be such an ignnrnnt
thing to do and so fatal to the future no,
htical prospects of any individual With III.
eyes on an office higher up. -" MS
'Mukc friends if you can r,,L. or,o,io.
il you must. but never allow right"ons
grievance t" take root in the heart of "ne
W Wno mas N" power to max" or mar you, is
thr Latin way Of saying: Make friondS
with thin% adversary while thou art in ths
! way lest he hale thee to the Judge, nnd thc
JadEe I%Iyrr tH thee to the officer, and tn" Off
| shalt not depart. thence Till thou host moi,i
! the very last price" P"'u
!! =, And [o, IN" very last price, then. as now,