The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-25
John S. Sprowls and John M. Rankin
Spoke to the Women Of the First
Ward, Giving Explanation
Of Two Platforms.
GIVE WOMEN POINTERS
The Speakers Told the Women That
They Should Know Principles of
Parties Before They Use
the Ballot.

large HuIuDeT VI TcpI eSGuldllNS
women attended the political tea
which was given yesterday afternoon
| by the first ward members Of the
League of Women Voters at the
! home of Mrs. G. E. Weissenberger
/ The main features of the afternoon
were the explanations given by John
! S. Sprowls and John M. Rankin OF
the democratic and republican plat
! forms, respectively.
! The league of nations was the par
ticular plank discussed by Mr..
Sprowls, who spoke first. He pre-
faced his explanation with few
congratulatory remarks to the women
, who have obtained their suffrage
rights. and expressed his desire that
the technicalities which seem to
make the effectiveness Of Tennesee's
ratification of last week doubtful
may be cleared up and the women be
allowed their full enfranchisement
He spoke of the woman's right to
vote as a long-deferred justice, re-
Gently given. her.
The women were reminded yester
day of the two positions which the
candidates for the presidential cleo
ton have taken in regard to the
league OF nations, by Mr.. Sprowls in
his address. He also told them why
some persons apparently disapproved
of the league--that they called it
creation Of President Wilson's mind.
He stated that ex-President Taft, the
president of the League to Enforce
Peace of 1915, was heartily in favor
Of the league of nations Mr.. Sprowls
assured his hearers that the league
of nations was not an organization to
take their sons to Europe to fight
wars in the future, but it was an Or
ganization to keep them at home.
Mr.. Sprowls also touched on the
domestic problems in the democratic
platform, with particular reference to
the high cost Of living. He told them
that in spite of the present demo.
cratic administration, the republicans
predominated in the senate for the
last two years and that they had
done nothing to lower prices.
Women, Have Influence.
Women have always had a great
influence over politics." John NJ.
Rankin said, land they always will
1t is not privilege which has been
given them to vote, but duty to per-
form which they have asked for and
which has recently been given them"
The speaker advised the women to
prepare themselves intelligently to
make use OF the ballot and to read
and become familiar with the plat
forms of both the democratic and
republican parties.
Mr.. Rankin explained to his audi
ence some of the views held BY the
republicans in their platform on do.
nestle problems, including the agri-
cultural problem and the private own.
ership Of national utilities. He told
them that the republican party did
not favor municipal ownership OF
national utilities.
The League of Nations.
The republican speaker also gave
an explanation of the league of ma
tons. He said it would mean the
confederation of nations. land no one
can serve two masters" he finished.
Mr.. Rankin declared that an adoD- !
ton Of the league of nations would
mean the giving UP Of a constitution
which had served successfully for
nearly one hundred and fifty years. /
ue CouSllluLlOn mas Deen sue !
cessful because the people who lived
under it were OF one mind and one
purpose" Mr. Rankin said.
Mrs. Leonard Matless presided
over the occasion yesterday, and in !
the speakers and welcor-
ing them to the tea. she ffttinglv
said: For many years, politics has
been SO essentially masculine. and
teas so essentially feminine. that
their appearance together in polite
society is undoubtedly a sign of the
ines" She told the men that the
women appreciated the fact that they
we're willing to help inform them
upon subjects which they should
Know about to be able to vote intelIi +
gently. \
Mrs. Weissenbereer, the hostess.
vas assisted yesterday by the Misses
Ignore and Alice Weber. Mary Louise
Iueston Fame Craig Bell, Dorothy
'tanbro. Eugenia Maxwell. Ruth Mat
ess, Emily Hitler and Martha Wilcox.