The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-09-20
THE WOMAN OF THIRTY.
She Will Vote According TO Her opin-
ions and Preferences.

| IL Is almost cruel to recall the nlne-
teenth century wit who offered to solve
| the suffrage question. 1t would suffice
| he said, to permit all women to vote
after thirty-the sly inference being
| that none would qualify. If the au-
thor of this merry Jest is still alive,
even he must find his taunt somew hat
! faded. Women in fighting for the vote
| have shown passion for earnestness,
persistence, and above all com
mand OF both tactics and strategy,
which have amazed our master poll.
| ticians. A new force has invaded
public life and il is welded by lead
ers who whatever their foibles, per
force admit their three decades A
world that hitherto recognized only the
power of feminine youth and beauty
is on its knees-no less before the
woman of thirty. What is TO be the
upshot'
IL is doubtless true that women will
divide much as men have done among
the several parties. There will he no
solid woman vote Having individ-
uai opinions and preferences, they will
be individually swayed by them in
respect to any given political issue or
personality But this is only half of
the sorry. Even the democratic fran.
chise cannot quite unsex either men or
women. Hitherto the distinctivelv
feminine instincts and aspirations have
centered in winning the right of sui
frage hut now that It is won, vast
united force has been let loose That
political issues and leaders should con
tnue 10 be merely mann made is in.
conceivable.
II j. fair guess. and indeed fact |
already exempliied. that one distinc |
tive interest OF the woman politician |
will be in what is called welfare legis |
lation the regulation of the conditions |
Of life and of industry with reference |
TO the health aud vigor of the nation
for the present and especially for fu.
ture generations. Such issues should /
house all the powers of sisterly and |
motherly instinct but a. vet they have 1
not developed an intensity, and cspe !
cfally skill in leadership. al all com
parable 10 that displayed in the sui
frage campaigns. Perhaps il is because
the feminine strength was divided be
tween Albany and Washington; all
may be well, now the great victory Is
won. Yet there is another possibility.
Unlike suffrage, questions of human
welfare can seldom be answered bv
categorical YES or no. If we legislate
an eight hour day for women. we are
subject to unexpected repercussions
Seasonal industries like canning and
millinery are crippled and their en-
ployes deprived Of much valued over
time. II wc legislate against night
work. we hear from clcyStof girls and
ticket choppers. who suffer serious
loss Of employment 80 the women
welfare workers arg confronted bv 9th
ers Of their SEA who demand in the
name Of freedom that they he permit
ted to work a. they choose. II Is not
a question Of black OF white. hut Of
delicately shaded values and the in
terplay Of thousand nicely adjusted
forces. economic and social The tai
ents required are openness to evidence.
accurate foresight and wise tolerance.
Women are beginning TO have sense Of
this, and they are developing a aexi
hility Of mind and a capacity for com
promise that make political discussion ,
= thing very different from what IL
has been.
Again IN the current campaign both :
parties are appealing 10 the feminine
abhorrence ~ hloodshed. and especial
y 60 the desire 10 protect brothers and
IONS but. while one party declares that
he league of nations viii end al wars
The other. With equal assurance. de-.
flares thas Il viii csreleSslv embroil
ls, Once more there u need 81 open
ness y mind and accurate foresight
he eNerci~e ~ which i adding = nrw
aleHt - The woman ~ thirty Bv d.
,rees 10 hirkrriurs # poIitics a. prac- |
iced hF men arc Developing = really |
ital vfew If Tho situation Women
Fho are 81 n b. mothers - the ne
son know that there y ~ sovereign
.emedY against dea-h ~ any form. and
hat The one sure uav e. make life
iomorahlv safe B. - fsar it, f.sspnusi
iilitirs utfh clear mind ana hirb
leart TREE citizenship means srrt u
~ the giving - eel e. ~ taking 4 q
Irslv ~ hfe N Mr. fsF anA are 2
'les1rd ath nrH manner Tive vas .
Thrn g eeru1sd hzfliur fsft tha. ~ ?
.rrade - The frr1ininr ssrucrle fo- j
rrrlnr SIS flr irrade q heu hshhles n
.0esu5e firhfrsi ard hsrfs nro.t tcr D
suE AHH We kuau r SIS nr~rsasrt \
% canssnes ~rr thsf sFr- - rnlft'rs q
rorreR 90 sffu - fernirine wa !