The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-04-03
Women IN Politics
BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE
Republican Woman Chairman for
Wayne County,

BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE
Republican Woman Chairman for
Wayne County.
"Will the women vote this year,"
This is question frequently put to
the women now taking poll of the
women voters of Wayne county.
The very fact that a political poll
is being taken under the auspices of
the Republics State Committee shows
that the women will vote.
The men seem, in some instances,
not to understand that the women will
vote.
One of them said the other day:
women are not legal voters"
"Why?" was asked.
Because the federal amendment
has not yet been ratified by the neces-
sary SO states" he said.
He was laboring, however, under a
Misrepresentation.
Women in many of the states of the
United States are enjoying full suf-
frage. That means that they are vot-
ing for everything and everybody that
the men vote for.
This right is conferred upon them
by their state constitutions.
In other states, like Illinois, for ex-
ample, the women vote for everything
cept state officers.
Why do they not vote for state
officers?
Legislative Powers Weak.
That means simply that the Illinois
legislature passed a law enabling the
women to vote, but the legislature
could not give them full suffrage be-
cause the Illinois state constitution
did not confer suffrage on women
when 1t was formed.
The offices created by the constitu-
ton, therefore, could not be voted for
unless the constitution was amended
giving that privilege.
But the women, through the legisla-
tive enactment voted for all but state
offices.
In Indiana the 1919 legislature pass
ed a law enabling women to vote for
presidential electors. In other words
every woman in Indiana can cast her
vote for president.
Constitution is Faulty.
But the law named no other office
and the Indiana constitution does not
give women any right Of franchise
whatsoever. That is one Of the rea-
sons a movement has long been on
foot to change the constitution.
When the federal amendment is
passed that viii give full universal
state, whatever the status Of suffrage
may be in any given state.
But wherever the women have a
right to vote in any way 1t naturally
follows that they are legal voters.
To assume any other attitude is
manifestly absurd.
Every woman in Indiana can vote
for president of the United States
this year
That makes her a legal voter.
Makes Test Case.
The writer filed declaration with
the county clerk this week declaring
herself a candidate for delegate to the
state Republican convention.
This was done as a test case.
The attorney general of Indiana has
already stated, unofficially, that WON
en- have the right to vote on May 4
at the nominating election.
If the women have the right to vote
for president on Nov. 2.
Many women ask what the "pri
mary" is.
1t is the nominating election il
which both parties vote on who they
prefer to run as their representative!
against the other party's candidate.
Party Chooses Candidate
On May 4, in Indiana, the Republi
cans will vote to say who they prefer
as Republican candidate to be named
at the national Republican conver
ton to be held in Chicago in June.
General Wood, General Lowden o
Illinois, Johnson of California, Ser
ator Harding of Ohio. are the Repub
lican candidates whose names will
appear on the primary ballot.
Women in Indiana certainly hav
as much right. as legal voters, to in
dictate their preference for presiden
as the men.
And to say who they want to rul
against the Democratic nominee.
Are Legal Voters, Contention
The reason that poll is beins
taken is because women in Indian;
are legal voters,
Not to get them ready to be vot
ers.
No political poll would be takel
under official auspices of a state par
ty organization unless women wer
legal voters in the state of Indiana.