The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-05
THEHASKINLETTER
FLIRTING WITH THE WOMAN VOTE.
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

| committee, for instance. sets forth "A
| hst or reforms and urges that they pt
/ Incorporated in the Republican mart.
/ PLATFORM, These include national an,
| state legislation for abolition Of child
! iabor, establishment Of an eight-hour
usG ana 4l-hour week for women m
| INDUSTRY, compulsory education for al
/ children between S and is for 36 weeks
IN each year. and retention Of citizen
/ snip by American women who marry
| foreigners.
/ The women's division Of the Demo.
cratic headquarters regards such pro.
poSals as unnecessary so far as they
are concerned. The Democratic COM
| mittee has, they state, promised women
! equal rights and privileges with men
ana as the women are to be adequately
! represented in Democratic deliberations
J lhere Is no reason why they should
suggest women's reforms separately
Both parties take the attitude that.
besides being concerned in advances
IN Woman's welfare. women voters will
De also Interested in principles rela ting
10 taxes, budgets war policies, and in
terna tional affairs, These matters ar
| rect their husbands, fathers, and sons
| where the women themselves are not
directly involved. Therefore, each par
| ~ VIII endeavor to gain the women :
support through them as well as
| W. Nheh measures lilhI DTltnHFllN HUI
vance the welfare OF women only.
The national woman's party, which
has hold so important a place in WON
ems politics for the past few years. Is
not engaging actively in preparations for
| the election campaign. When an
! preached as 70 the political status Of the
| party, a representative stated that il
is sun absorbed in the fight to get the
suffrage amendment ratified.
AS the national womans party was
| organized for the sole aim of obtaining
national woman suffrage. it can not en-
gage IN other work until Il has accom-
plished its purpose" she added. when
| the 80 necessary states have ratified the
amendment and national woman sui
rage Is fact. We expect to hold q
convention and consider the party!
political future.
Made up as It Is Of women OF every
political leaning, and many who are not
| animated with any party, Ii Is hardly
| possible that the party should declare
| itselt Tor any candidate, even II suf-
frage is achieved in time for the wCm.
ans party TO take sides in the cleo
ton"
This member OF the party and many
others believe that the womans party
VIII either decide to uphold some prin
ciple, such as industrial equity for tn,
| sexes, or there is the possibility tina
| Wnen IL mas seen the amendment rati'
fled II will be dissolved.
In the meantime the women are VOL X.
Ing harder than ever to get the leisure
~ governors Of nonsuffrage states t.
hurry up extra legislative sessions Sc
that the amendment may be ratified IL
time for the election Twenty-fiV,
states have now ratified, and three NOR,
Wyoming, Idaho and New Mexico
are expected to do so at special SEES
sions arranged for January and Feb
ruary. Eight other states would b.
sure to ratify, the woman's party claims
II the governors would call the legis.
latures into session.
In order. for women of nonsuffragt
states TO be eligible to vote this No.
vember, 1t will be necessary for the
amendment to be put through by May
II these women are to vote at presiden.
tial primaries, they will have to be en-.
franchised by February AS both Dem.
ocratic and Republican parties are
| eager to enlist more women, pressure is
being exerted to get the governors &c
gather together their lawmakers ans
settle the question.