The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-15
THE AMERICAN VOTE.

amendment IS in line with public opinion WHICH IL
rapidly sweeping the country. Mr.. Glass has de-
clared that the states which have given women the
power of the ballot the states which will form
the pivot of the coming presidential campaign
The fact that Mr.. Glass has never been an advo-
cate of the franchise for women in the past gives
the greater emphasis to his statement. which is
borne out by the influence the womans vote had in
the last presidential campaign and the influence
that vote has exerted upon politics in those states
where vote.
1t is fact that the states must face, and particu-
larly the Southern States. that the woman's vote
from is to be a tremendous factor in politics.
Those states which refuse the ballot to their women
are placing powerful weapon in the hands of that
part Of the country where have voting rights
During the last converting of the Florida legisla-
ture there were number of newspapers IN Florida
which strongly advocated the franchise for women.
But in spite of the warning sounded at that time
the legislature went blindy on, refusing to give to
the people of this state the right expression on
suffrage but arrogating to itself the right of deci-
sion in this most important matter.
In consequence of this Florida today is facing a
political situation long predicted by those sane and
thoughtful politicians who have not allowed parti-
san politics to blind them to the logical sequence of
events which have transpired in this country during
the past quarter century.
More than six millio nwomen will have the right
of franchise in the coming presidential campaign
Upon the womans will largely depend the presi
Dental nominee.
What opinion one may hold for against the
franchise for is ground only for futile argu
ment. What candidate will receive the support OF
the mass of women voters. is the great question,
the settlement of which may prove to be decisive in
the coming election
There is room for argument as to the right Of
to the ballot, at this period in the worlds
history. Women are already welding that weapon.
And the fact that one half of the woman power of
this country is vitazed and the other half is
dered void through the blindness of few partisan
states rights advocates is a to the south to-
day And through the south, menace to the entire
country.
Those moss-back politicians who have refused to
accept facts still speak of the suffrage if it
something debatable. when. a matter of fact,
it is something that is already actively at work in
this country and throughout the world
The old argument of the negro vote will not hold
water when former chief justice of the United
States declares that the vote of the South
be looked upon to this section politically.
The woman's vote in the southern states, with the
exception of Mississippi and Louisiana, is than
the vote of the negro and woman combined.
So had the of Florida been enfranchised by
the legislature during the last meeting of that body
Florida would not today be facing possibility of
supporting a republican nominee.
But the womans vote goes deeper than differ
ence of party. 1t is upon this vote that the nation
must largely depend for Amercansm.
The suffragists of the United States are at this
time holding their last convention They have
fought and they have won The Susan B. Anthony
amendment has passed both houses of the United
States government. 1t remains only TO ra few
more stubborn states to Withdraw their antagonism,
and the national government will have given to the
women of the SOUTH what this section has blindly
refused
When the Virginia senate is warned against it's
stubborn stand for state rights, it is time for the
other states of the South to harken.
Unless the southern women have the right Of
ballot before long this county may see such a state
of misrule in governmental affairs as is at this
time undreamed of, except by those few who have
spent years in studying this question of the foreign
vote and the negro vote-the vote of ignorant and
the erate, against the intelligent vote of this
country.
1t is Americanism that we need in America today
1t IS the vote of the people who have built up this
nation in agony of soul and sweat brow 1t is the
ballot, if we are to have a truly representative
American in the White House during the coming four
years 1t is the power of America against the power
of Bolshevistic Russia. of treacherous Germany of
that ignorant horde of malcontents, who are seek
ing to overthrow all government to enjoy the spoils
Of treason and lawlessness
The intelligent vote of the women of the United
States may be relied upon to be a good American
vote. And on that vote the safety of a nation may
depend
me makeup man is one of our best friends We
IKE him much. And that is the reason w care go