The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-08
TN THE EVENT.

F the Nineteenth amendment TO the Constitution is rail-
ned in tune for the to vote this fall it seems the
plain duty of the Woman club to meet the occasion and
do us Utmost to prepare local woman for the ballot
Whether women have opposed suffrage or whether they
have worked for there remains the fact that if women
are given the right Of suffrage is much of duty for
them to exercise fhesight as it for man to do So
There are scores Of intelligent in this city who
have for years been busy upon other affairs than that of
politics. II not reflection upon their education nor
upon their mental development that are abymaly in the
dark regarding political conditions and the proper way
to make and cast legal ballot. The great majority Of
women have had too many duties of home church or bust
10 but scan thought these things in which they
had but vague hope of participating.
Now. however the time bids fair to arrive when it will
be highly necessary for of political instruction
for the new voters and something should be planned and
ready to operate it suffrage ratified. ne and again
the assertion is being made that the ballot will make but
little difference in the long. excepting to increase the
vote is SAID that the women will vote exactly as their
husbands fathers brothers direct without question This
Is moi tue Women will believe, vote largely as their
home politics have held but they going to ask lot of
questions FIRST and if the answers satisfactory there
will be numbers Of gentlemen who will find the feminine
voters OF their families boiling the home ticket.
The tme is past when do they are commanded
10 do The show me" spirit is rampant and it will wax
more rampant when the duty of citizenship is placed upon
ihem No intelligent man takes proposition with
out turning it about and looking at it from all sides. Wo-
men are even more prone to caution and investigation. he
opportunity should be given for these new voters 10 learn
the fundamental principles Of the two great parties and
little of the history of the parties; to learn the difference
between Democratic anda Republican method of admin
serns national affairs; all this taught without bias abso-
utely What the general party aims and ideals are should
be taught. and how to mark ticket correctly
Such instruction would give the women chance to
know and to decide for themselves and not to say Il am
Republican, or am Democrat because my father or
my grandfather is one" 1t is rghtful privilege and
should be managed some way
The Womans club with its membership of about three
hundred should devise means of reaching the women
generally with clear, concise unbiased presentation of
bref political education 1t would of course be widest
folly 10 lean the smallest fraction way or the other
but the sound sense of the incoming board would eliminate
any possibility Of that The most important campaign is
should be discussed way that those present might
weigh in their own balances.
Itso be hoped tina the club will consider and prepare
to offer something that will be adequate if the occasion
demands, and make available for every woman who
wishes to inform herself.