The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-09-16
CARY A. HARDEE
URGES WOMEN
TO REGISTER

Live Oak, Sept. 15.-Hon. Cary A.
Hardee, democratic nominee for gov
ernor, today gave to the press the fol-
lowing plea to the women of Florida
that they register and qualify, so that
they may take part in the November
election and perform their duty in ex-
ercising that new found privilege:
when the secretary of state at
Washington officially declared the
ratification of the Susan B. Anthony
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton, by a sufficient number of indi-
vidual states, the women of Florida
thereby acquired equal political right
with the men. There were many Of
us who believed that the question OF
suffrage was a question for considera-
ton by the states of the union rather
than the national government; how
ever, the way by which woman en-
franchisement has been attained or
the individual attitude any of us may
have assumed in the past respecting
it, it is now closed question. 1t is
idle therefor, from practical stand
point, to discuss our individual atti-
tude, either as to the route by which
| it came to us, or as to the merits OF
the question itself. The preeminent
fact is that more than one hundred
thousand women in Florida have been
given the ballot, and whether you will
it or not or whether they welcome it
or not, nevertheless the responsibility
of citizenship is now upon them Is
lit not tn eduty OF good citizen to
register and vote? Will the women of
Florida meet this. their first test, by
exercising their legal right of voting
in the coming election. hope so.
"As the nominee of the Democratic
party for the high Office of governor,
want to suggest to them not only
the propriety of their voting, but like
wise duty to do so imposed by fun
ydamental law. There Is nothing com
plicated in registration or in the cast
ing of ballot and so far as educat.
ing the women of Florida for a proper
exercise of their new found privilege
am sure they do not need it any
more than the men. In government
like ours, deriving its just powers
from the people, it is of first import
ance that the voters should familiar
ize themselves with both candidates
and issues. Only by this means can
they intelligently serve the country in
the exercise Of the right of suffrage
however, the women of Florida do not
need lessons in citizenship any more
than the men.
Il assume that there will be much
discussion in the various clubs, civic
bodies and other meetings of the
women, as 70 the proper exercise Of
the right OF the ballot. There may be
movements for league or combina.
ton whise purpose will be to vote,
as far as possible, the women as a
body In other words make of them
class electorate. trust that the
representative women of our state
will exert their influence against such
a policy. Glass voting is never de-
sirable because it always loses sight
OF the general interest.
Naturally ! want to see the won.
en- of Florida vote the Democratic
ticket not only because the Demo.
cratic party stands for progressive
legislation along social, moral and ed.
ucational lines, those things in which
women are supposed to be specially
interested, but also because it has
shown constructive leadership in the
solution of economic problems as
wekk. feel sure that the political
party which overthrow the reign of
Republican misrule following the ne.
riod OF reconstruction after the civil
war will appeal to the women as the
proper one for their utilization. What,
ever political party they may desire
to affiliate with however | would like
to suggest again the obligation which
now rests upon them of registering
and voting If they fail to register
now then they preclude themselves
from participation not only in the
coming election, but also perhaps
school elections and such other cleo.
tons as might be had before the time
for general registration again"