Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-10
CAN'T BAR WOMEN
FROM PARTY CAUCUS
NEW LAW REMOVES BARS TO
SEX DISCRIMINATION IN
IOWA.
STATUTE APPLIES ONLY
TO PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Ora Williams, State Document Ed
tor, Reviews Changes in State
Laws Pertaining to Selection OF
Party Candidates - General Law
Does Not Cover Caueusss.
cIal TO Times-Republican.

Special to eS-Repnbncan.
Des Moines, April 1o.-Many in
uniries are coming in to tho offices
OF the state officials concerning the
rights of the women Of Iowa to par
ticipate in the cauCuses this next
Wednesday. Governor Harding gave
out a letter a few days ago in which
he made il plain that women could
take part in the caucuses. The same
question is discussed by Ora Will
hams, state document editor. in a
letter replying to inquiries which he
has received in his office.
From long ago the custom has
been in Iowa in all parties to hold
caucuses subject only TO the will or
the party committees, which are, n
the absence of any law to the con-
trary. and between conventions. the
sole authority on party political mat
tiers. Then the Iowa Legislature un-
dertook to regulate the selection Of
delegates to national conventions the
same as delegates TO conventions for
state and local purposes and under
a law enacted few years ago we
| held a presidential primary. at which
delegates were selected and prefer
ences indicated This plan was tried
Just once in Iowa and abandoned.
Upon the abandonment OF the law
we again revert to the old caucus
system without legal regulation or
restraint. The caucuses and con-
ventions 10 be held this month in
Iowa are not affected in any way by
any law now on the statute books.
/ They are wholly subject to the will
/ OF the members of the party.
The call for the republican state
/ convention is for an assembling OF
republicans and presumably every
/ county and district call will be di-
rected to republicans and not 10
! white republicans or male repub-
/ leans Now who are republicans?
The custom from time immemor-
| ial is to let each person choose his
own status politically. Attendance
at a caucus has always been taken to
mean a declaration Of party affilia-
ton or preference. But there has al
ways, also, been an inference that
one who attends a caucus or a con-
vention Is bound to assist in the
election or the final nominees anc
also to be in a position to SO assist
Or, In other words, must be voter
An n-naturalized person would not
ordinarily be regarded as eligible fol
attendance at a caucus.
Iowa Law Does Not Discriminate.
Now in Iowa, by act OF the las,
general assembly, the sex discrinin.
alton in regard to voting rights has
relates to choosing a president of the
United States. This is not now de.
pendent at all upon any contemplat
ed change in either state or nationa
constitution. 1t is final.
Now If women are to have ,
voice in the election OF a presiden
they should have voice in the Sc
lection of their party candidate 70
president. The place to commence i
in the precinct caucus. This is losi
that can not be evaded. It onl
needs TO De stated 10 De accepted .,
every person who understands tn
spirit of our political institutions.
This, then, leaves the matter en-
tirely with each and every CAUCUS t
BE determined when the issue il pre-
sented. The question is not whsthe
or not there is any law authorizin
women to attend and participate fl
. the republican caucuses but whethe
y there is anything either In law Q
custom or logic to forbid such par
ticipation. If they are refused tn
right to participate those responsible
for barring them must show a rea
, son therefor, an affirmative reaso
backed by common sense and part
policy.
l ut follows that the right thing t
, 1