The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-10-08
CONCEPTION OF
SUFFRAGE HOPE
OF. THE I FUTURE I / !
How Women Handle New Status
of Vital Importance
to State -
WILL TACTICS IMPROVE?
c. L. Young in Address to Clubs
Urges Necessity of
High Ideals
WILL TACTICS IMPROVE?

ISul coo 1Olio"o.
"At this zero hour, when had mar
shalled my choicest vocabulary for the
purpose of taking back, on behalf OF
all mankind, all the nasty things that
man ever has said about woman-of
retracting all the slurs and jibes that
have been cast upon the gentler and
better sex, and for the purpose of say
ing to you that we know you are
never "catty"'; that we know you are
not afraid of mice; and tha1ve know
you can keep secret, you can imag-
inc my consternation ay the remarks
of my predecessor on the program
My vocabulary is gone. She has tried,
at least, to live up to the reputation
Of the sex that secret can not be
kept. And now it is my duty to make
some kind of speech, because / am
not going to make the one she heard
about.
New Found Status
'In considering what should be said
here could not fail to have in mind
status in our world, and in connec-
ton with that thought this question
flashed into my mind: What are you
Federation women anyway? You arc
first, the impersonation of achieve
ment l do not say this in idle flat
terry. lived with club program for
fifteen years. | have known what
subjects are studied | have watched
the toilsome preparation of papers,.
the copying of encyclopedias, the,
search of history and literature-and
| say in all sincerity that while we
men have been grNeling in the mire
of commercialism and confining our
reading to the newspapers and, cheap
magazines, you at least have made an.
honest effort to keep alive some
spark of interest if literature, art,
history, and the sciences. In other
words you have the responsibility of
fostering the aesthetic side Of life. TO
the extent that you have succeeded
you have achieved something worth
while.
Still Il Hope
But not only are you the impefson-
alton of achievement in the sense |
have mentioned. You are still a hope.
| use the word still tadvisedly Only
yesterday in talking with friend
from another state, he said, DO yon
know, l have begun to think that the
womens vote is not going to change
things at ALL Along with have
heard that in some cases women who
have taken the stump are resorting
to the tactics of the 'Ward-heeler.
They are initiating the old fashioned
politician who thought of nothing but
votes. They stoop to misrepresenta-
ton and deception. They care for
nothing but results and are not
especially particular about the way
they secure them. These are only
indications that my friend may be
right, but if your suffrage does not
mean change it is a tragedy. l
am not speaking now of election, re-
suits as such, but of our citizenship
standards of citizenship.
Conception OF Suffrage
DO you realize that the hope have
mentioned depends upon your con-
ception of suffrage? Much has been
said of it as natural right, but in
contemplation of law it is not, and
never has been that either FOR
man or owoman.X 1t is not natural
right in the sense that the right to
worship God according to dictate OF
ones own conscience is a natural
right, nor in the sense that the right
to protection in the home, as ones
castle. is natural right. Suffrage
is not granted for the benefit OF the
individual who exercises the right.
1t is granted for the benefit OF the
state-for society at large. The true
conception is unselfish. The usua!
conception is the contrary. Men nave
been interested in the machinery or
politics, in the externals. They have
been actuated too much by greed tor
power or greed for gain, and they
have made the name 'by-word and
kissing. ,t- .>.
"1n it's true conception suffrage Is
a civil right 1t is a privilege. Yea,
it is more than that--it is a duty. II
YOU grasp the idea that it is duty,
a sacred one, there will be no doubt
about the influence your Federation
will exercise in the field OF citizen
ship. TO be sure there is great con-
Germ now about how to mark the bal
lots, about the choice of party ana
candidates, but your primary duty IS
to study the fundamentals of our gov
ernment, the great principles under
lying our institutions. With all OF
the attacks that are being made on
these institutions it is essential that
electors come to know the truth about
them and the guarantees which are
secured to use by our constitution
And the truth must promulgated for
political truth will make us free pol
itically just as truth will make us
free spiritually. !.
This is not the usual address Of
welcome Bismarck can speak for it.
self. Look our city over and draw
your own conclusions. Anything
might say concerning our town would
have no effect upon your conclusions
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