The Lakeland evening telegram., 1920-10-20
TO THE WOMEN VOTERS

suggestion of schools for women vot-
ers as if it were a reflection upon the
intelligence Of the newly enfranchised
women. This view. we believe, was
great mistake, and the want of such
instruction as could have been con-
eyed by competent teachers will be
iorely felt on election day.
There are great many things
about the government of the nation and
state which the women do not know,
imply because they have never had
any practical incentive to learn them.
To vote intelligently the voter must
know what Offices are to be filled.
what are the qualifications for the Of
fee, who are the candidates, and
what are their political affiliations.
This embraces some pretty large sched-
ules, but it is not all. He must be
familiar with the election laws, includ-
ing those relating to registration. He
must understand the ballot. He must
have in mind the method of marking
it, so as TO insure its being counted as
intended.
! Of course the white women of Flor
ida know which party they want to
support. But that does not suffice as
a complete guide to voting. They can
not vote straight" party ticket here,
as they can in some states, merely by
making mark under an emblem, but
they must pick out the cadnidates rep
, resenting their party, and vote for
. them.
It is not even sufficient to ascertain
that all those for whom they are going
to vote are Democrats or Republicans,
as the case may be. In many parts Of
the state there are so-called indie
pendent" Democrats on the ticket who
are running against the regular party
: nominee. 1t is therefore possible to
/ vote for man calling himself a Dem
h ocrat, and yet vote directly against the
party. On the Republican side there
are two sets Of candidates, one calling
y themselves the regulars" the other
t designated as lilly whites" An ar
o dent Republican. therefore, may vote
e against his party while voting for men
whom he has long known as Republi-
cans.
These are only a few of the diff
q culties and complications which con-
front the new voter when she goes to
the booth, with just FIVE minutes in
which to prepare her ticket, and no op-
d portunity to refresh her memory by in
n quiries. She must have this. and 9TH
e er essential information at her finger
e tips to avoid getting confused and
v making mistakes which will nullify her
" intentions.
Besides, it is very doubtful if the
election officers will permit the use Of
any sort of memorandum in the booth
, The law is not entirely plain, but it:
;, intent seems to be to throw the vote
:. altogether upon his own resources
when he goes to vote.
:, In view Of these and other difhcul
ties, it is clear that the women-ane
by that we mean the educated anc
well informed women-hvae none tot
much time to qualify for casting thei
" ballots; and since it is now too lat
RS for any systematic instructions we tax
the liberty Of urging them to give tn
IL subject all the attention they can spare
t. and as matter Of precaution comm
en- to memory the names of all the candi
,g dates for whom they desire to vote.
ne .
Kentucky's Boxing Board of Con
r troll is not inclined to favor the pull
e ing off of socalled championship fight
&c in the Blue Grass State, but on tn
r. contrary has adopted a policy of en-
he couraging frequent bouts at popula
prices.
st. Petersburg authorities are urg
In ing a war for pure milk. 1t seem
&c that several of the local dairies d.
not place on the market milk tha
- :. comes up to the standard and severa
arrests are now threatened,