Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-14

us now to remain outside OF the Bis
fpolitical parties and obtain the
things we wish without petitioning
them? II we are still to be petition.
ers, what was the idea of getting the
voter More and more the parties
are becoming the powers in this
country. | don't know whether it is
wise and right, but 1t is the trend
of the present political parties. In
stead of appealing to them, 1t is bet
ter to get on the inside and get the
things you desire.
"As l read the signs, there is to
be continuation of the old familiar
strife. For the last 90 years we
have been trying to convince the
men of the ability of women. You've
got to convert the men.
"The league is going to educate
women for citizenship. 1t will be
non-partisan, The democrats from
Alabama and the republicans from
New Hampshire must get together
in the league and be friends. Then
each can return to her own party In
her own state and vote.
And I'll warn you that there is
only one man in rs who is big
enough to understand how you can
work in an organization of this kind
and be nonpartisan. Some of you
vii! be won over and fooled by
them. But | wish to say that the
sulfragists for the last 80 years,
more than any other body of wom-
en-, have kept the flag flying for the
principles of the constitution and the
things for which this government
stands. If you are going to be FIVE
Years behind the political parties
you might just as we'll have no
league. You must keep five years in
advance of them if you are to per-
form your part. And. have full
confidence in the conscientious pur-
pose and moral outlook of the
body, - ~. ~,
Statement by Miss Hay. ;,
: A half-century Of effort and sacri-
fee lies behind the woman suffrage
movement: before us unrolls a fu-
ture big with possibility and promise
as the women OF the nation begin to
use their new political liberty.
Until they had a voice in the man
agelnent of their government few
women were partisan. Now, with
the big problems Of the nation to be
solved, they must choose a political
party in order that their influence
aid voice may count. 1t is inevita-
Bile that this cannot be accomplished
as a Woman's entity; there is too
great difference of opinion regard
ing what is to be done and how it is
to be accomplished. So, that they
may be a real factor in meeting this
crisis in the country, women should
waste no time and effort, but choose
one Of the existing organizations
and through its machinery make her
influence felt and her voice count.
Personally | have chosen the re-
party, and there are many
reasons for this. Take, as an exam
pie. its record on suffrage. Straight
through suffrage history it has been
aided by the republican party, or by
republican men. Moreover, of the
81 states which have passed the fed
eral suffrage amendment 26 are re-
publican: the state where special
session has been called for February
10 is republican, and the only states
so far which have refused to ratify
have been democratic.
The republican party has been
consistently forward-looking; it has
been the party of vision, but not
visionary; constructive yet conserva-
tive; progressive but practical; its
aim the'good of the country, not of
a section.