South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-25


womans Franchise league Thursday night, Mrs
Bass Is more than a suffragist; than the wife
OF her husband woman vision OF aspira-
tons and whose presence inspires those about
her with lo1tier ambitions.
Mrs Bass spoke as partisan. democratic just
IL calculated that she would. and Just as It
best that she should She gave the the
Program that the democratic party has in
from them. and as chairman OF the democratic
womens associate national committee, invited their
afHliaton. Nothing undetermined or improper about
that To the credit OF the Franchise league, was
what Mrs. Bass brought here for; a part of
the leagues educational program, being INDUCED
TO AZ women. now that they have the balot-or
rearly SOTO that ballot properly and intelli-
gently.
At the next meeting. the league members will
hear the republican side; the speaker will be
republican speaker-nothng hypocritlcal about IL
ALL quite Improvement what promised at
enc time to become the leagues program. viz;
pretense at party inder Evidence though covertly
in the republican party's behalf
Il is stlI quite fresh in local memories how poll
Jicians associated with the present angelic city ad
ministrstion IN its prediction days, managed to
manipulate the Franchise league into an apparent
ly independent. though distinctly pro-republican
league; back in 1917, when it looked for a while
the city election
On yes! They always going to vote FOR the
best man. but always sure TO find him in the
republican fold. and so anxious were some of them
FOR this, that they quite opposed 20
independent mayoralty candidate that it
might lessen republicans chances-unwilling
admit that neither of the big parties had done
50 we'll in their choice of nominees. that in
dependent candidate might do better.
The Indiana supreme court by virtue of a series
of poorly chosen excuses-and a republican supreme
court at that,-deprived the OF their voting
power under the limited suffrage law of 1911
didn't deprive them OF their voting influence,
and the Franchise league never let up "inde-
pendent" spread OF the scandal. misrepresentation,
and unisnformation Matched up for them by the re-
publican politicians; nay. until the minute
when Mayor Carsons majority of 50 had been final
Is certified to-
And perhaps It is all for the best Mayor Carson.
their campaign idol, having given South
rottenest most immoral indeed. almost obscene
city administration; worse than the that
South Bend had previously seen-may have
taught the league the lesson that it putting into
effect that is better the political
parties assume such responsibilities even with wom-
ans openly partisan help than for those same wom-
under the hypocritical pretense Of independence
seek TO moralize such administrations exist
ence. misguided and misdrected as they were. then
having face the modification of their misapIle
organized effort
Woman. with the ballot quite within her hands,
cannot afford permit herself be msused in the
political by designing men, as they were mis-
used here during the last municipal canvass. What
the local Franchise league has done now is but a
part of the program of suffrage organizations tho
country over. With the ballot quite within their
grasp. they beginning a campaign of education
among their members fitting them that ballot
intelligentiy. and eschewng the hypocritcal of
it, placing the parties before them. and saying take
your choice.
In other words. the are 10 exercise their
independence henceforth in their personal choice
political parties working with them. and within
them for the betterment Of the parties and there
fore the country this instead OF pretending a non
1artisan independence. and then having it, like as
not. inappropriate by designing demagogues and
used a morality cloak beneath which to hide a
party's cussedness.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait head Of the National
woman's Suffrage association, and as we under
stand H. mother OF that idea is be congratulated
and speak no less congratuatory OF Mrs Charles
Arthur Carlisle. head OF the local league
and OF those who with her caught the spirit and
have put it into action. Members the league and
others. the leagues campaign of education CON
tinues, will henceforth know that when they listen
20 a republican speaker at one Of their meetings.
they listening 20 republicanism. and when IL is
democrat, that they listening 10 democracy.
and either one under cloaked system: OF
propaganda. calculated TO invegle rather than in
form.
such a system. regard as womanly. right
minded. and fair, womanly. We say because it is
than manly. The Knife and Fork club dom
mated by republican men, will go on we anticipate,
just has been going. asserting its nou-I PARTISAN
independence by continuous stream OF pro-repub-
lcan propaganda, calling it "neutrality"--which Is
the manly" way. OF course. we regret that