The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-04-09
Duty of Woman Voter Outlined
Must Prepare for Her New
Sphere IN Life
INTEREST IN POLITICS
NOT SPECIFIC ONLY
Women Will Require Polls to
Be Conducted in Clean
Places

To an appreciative audience which
packed the Methodist church to its
doors last night, Miss Maria Sanford,
Professor Emeritus of the University
of Minnesota, under the aupices OF
the Women's Civic and Community
club gave what was undoubtedly the
strongest lecture ever given by a wo-
man to a Bemidji audience. Advance
ed to the ripe age of eighty-five, al
most frail in physical appearance,
Miss Sanford astonished her hearers
with the strong, virile and spirited
message she had for them.
Her subject, 1.-THE Duty Of the Wo-'
man Voted" was a most timely one.
coming as it does at time when wo-
men are beginning to realize that II
they are to vote they must learn now
to do so intelligently. Miss Sanford
saw in the advent of women suffrage
a bright ray of light for the ma
TONS politics.. Coming at once into
new environment she will not be tied
down by habit or custom or having
done certain things in certain way
for years, but would come fresh to
the cause unhampered and with no
tshackles to loosen.
New Order of Politics.
She should come to the new status
with the thought uppermost what
good work can do and how shall
prepart for it," The old order OF
the boss politician engineering the
polls in a back room of the saloon
must go-in fact has gone. The in
fluences of the saloon and other low
practices will not be tolerated or
even attempted when wife accom-
panies her husband to the polls or
when she goes alone. A higher plane
of political ethics will prevail.
She strongly advocted the selection
of higher type of men for political
offices-the best possible man avail
able from either parties or both par
ties-the most capable men should
be chosen.
Recommends Short Ballot.
Notwithstanding her knowledge OF
state politics and politicians she stat
ed it was impossible for her to look
down the formidable ballot presented
at elections and be able to ltnel-
ligently select the best man for the
best office The ballot must be short
ened so that one may become more
familiar with the political record OF
the ballot.
each man whose name appeared on
Under the previous plan OF party
politics, partisanship held sway.
man must vote his party regardless
of the candidates personal prob1ty
or qualifications. Degradation Is
worse than defeat of party anytime,
she said.
>Women's Interest General.
Woman's interest in politics would
not be confined to school matters,
children's welfare ETC., as many De-
lieve. She will survey the whole
structure and set about to remedy
the most urgent detects first. with
a voice full of emotion Miss Sanford
referred to one of the greatest stains
two million children who are forced
upon our nation today, that OF the
two million children wro are forced
to work in various capacities, chill
dren as young as three years OF age.
This stain must be wiped out. These
children must be given proper nour-
ishment, education and recreation.
Applies Golden Rule.
Lastly she dwelt upon the present
oroot nuestion of labor and capital
and advocated the application OF the
Golden Rule. The movement OF the
masses of labor asking better things
and the privilege Of living on high
ar standard was, in Miss Sanford
mind, an evidence Of the ambition OF
the working class to MAKE OF them
selves a better class Of citizens, en-
loving the same opportunities as
their heretofore more fortunate Dro-
theirs and to share with them IN tne
-. loxun nv tho common Gre