Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-16
WOMEN DEMANDING
CLEAN ELECTIONS
Mrs. Henry Ridgely Makes Their
Attitude Known at Demo
cratic Convention.

Mrs Henry Ridgcly outlined the posi-
hon ol women ~ Delaware IN her au-
dress before the Democratic convention
IA Dover on Tuesday She said: :,
"ior the first time women are Included
in the organization of the Democratic
partY of Delaware. As one of those women
aud as spokesman for the ASSOCIATION
npmlcrs ~ the Democratic state Con-
mittcr, ask Your consideration of the
wuman's point of view on the important
business before this convention
The womcn of Delaware are taklig &
their cuiranchiscmcnt seriously. lhey 90
not intend that It's effect shall be only 10
multiply the electorate. There IS always
certain number 0f voters ON when Il
party can count at the polls. IL the en-
i,nnehisement of women should merely
douhlo that vote for each of the parties
what would their enfranchiscmcnt ac-
eomphshp But that viii not I've the result.
The womrn oi Delaware Will not only
denonstratr their interest IN their govern
mont hv voting on November ,, but
th.v will consider carefully their ballots
and vote thoughtfullV and CONSCIENTIOUS
IA Many male voters consider that party
fealty demands the casting ofan nunscratch-
al ballot regardless Of the character of
nomiu,c. / hat ls not the woman ) idea
of party fcaltN, ho
IL ls true that women are attaching
themselves o. the two great parties,
many of them working actively for the
marty of thcir choice and rightly SO
there should h,, no sex IN politics and no
separate party for women. But women
hnve different idea of the relation be
tween voter and party from that OF the
average party man. \ man gives ms party
his adherence. woman gives her party
her devotion Remember devotion can
not H. kindlcd N the mistS Of mere pro-
fession. or IN the dank atmosphere OF
corruption and dcccit. To win and hold
the devotion of It's women, party must
demonstrate that Il Is worthy Of their
faith. A woman pledges herself TO work
for her party brcausc she believes that
through that party she can bring about
unad government She viii devote all
her energy, strength and enthusiasm
toward putting into office those whom she
hchovcs will bc Instruments for the
advancement of right. Only candidates
who are able and honorable will she
tslicvr worthy 60 represent her party.
She will give devotion To her party, to
the things for which II stands, 10 the
serVice she can render 10 her state through
Il nut a. any man or set of men IN that
pafty. 10 her the hreach Of faith 20 party
= lo write on the party ballot a name un-
worthy ol is traditions.
AGAINST sELrIsHNEss.
"shc will feel that she Is no true partisan
Il She sheil help 90 put IN Office men who
tlsr her party a. . means oi self advance
mcnt instead oi the advancement OF the
state
III that sense the mass of women are
absolutely independent hut they viii bc
'uund more partV-iaithful than the mass
Al male voters when IL comes &C. a question
Il prln, ,iple They viii lift high the party
hammer and .without thought Of self or
selfish seeking they VIII carry lt on o.
victory | say without selfish seeking for
have vet g. meet the Delaware wom.. n
who Is looking ior an office
"Nhat W desire % do with our ballots
,s e. make our country a better place 20
1--we IA. to give our children every adj
vantage that American children should
have ~ their blrthrght, before every
thing else td see % Il that when the youth
III Delaware attain voting age they shall
not he tcmpicd a. the youth of the state
has been IN the past % sell their birth
right
The women 81 Delaware demand
clean elections. and the party which does
not give straightforward assurance
hat il will countenance no corruption
will not hold the Delaware woman's vote
But remember, u viii not be sufficient
Tor her q know that no large corruption,
fund h beng used al elections: there must
be no CORRUPTION fund Whatsoever. In
exchange for her devotion 10 her party
.hc demands absolute cleanneSs both at
the primaries and at the polls. Politicians
appeal a. the voter 70 put principles
above candidates This sounds fair. but
heir real object Is 10 secure support for
geak candidates by high sounding plst-