Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-03
q WEDNESDAY,, NovEMHER 3. 1870.
A Medal for the Women:

'S1.N the parlance OF the day, You'll have
~ to hand it to the women" Whether or
mot one appro owes the method by which they
lwere enfranchised, whether or not one ap-
Gproves their presence in politics. no ono will
$be SO churlish as TO deny the patent fact
hat they have moro than made good In
his. their first. campaign, and their first
opportunity to back up their opinions with
their ballots.
we refer more particularly, Of course to
Sthe women OF Richmond, although reports
&rom practically every section OF the coun-
ry are OF tho same i'm port. that every
here the feminine activity was seen and
: Ihe feminine influence manifested at tho
POLLS. Those who have said that the women
lid not want the vote and would not trouble
o go to the polls IL il were bestowed upon
hem now stand corrected before the fact
that they did want il and they did use il
True, perhaps several millions III the nation
f1ld not go 10 the polls, but count the men
EWho for oLe reason or another failed in
performance of this paramount duty uf citi-
Eenship, and the argument to the women
pill appear vapd and silly.
Here in Richmond the women collectively
eserve o medal for distinguished political
ervlce. Throughout the entire campaign
hey have been active, igi!ant and tireless
E'They have comprised in large measure the
FLED and registered in unexpected numbers
hnd for twenty-four hours every day they
have been on the job; assisting the registrar
Strengthening out the inevitable tangles re-
Sultant UPON so heavy an Increase in the
Electorate, ana in arousing dormant cnthu-
sAtasm because OF the lack of q strong
Fsminority party. Virginia campaigns have
|shecone rather cut and dried, but this year
(s4he women have given the color and 2est
Exceeded for complete reviyifcation And
|fyesterday, day OF triumph and final recoe-
||ssnition for the women, they were early a,
||ssthe polls and they stayed late They we're
|SAmong the active workers in getting out
1.-the vote, IN iInparttng Instructions as 10
6Show the ballots should De marked AND with
lSfew murmurings they took their places in
1.-the long lines and waited for hours until
fSstheir turns came. And in the booths, God
Esbless them they vnted--one is tempted 10
RSsay as one man-for James NJ. Cox.
Conditions at the polls yesterday and the
consequent loss OF perhaps thousands Of
otss were cniS partly cScusablo There
Vas not time after TIC ratification Of the
outrage amendment TO make the necessary
legal changes, with the result that the cleo
ton officials were swamped and when tho
polls closed many were turned away some
after having stood III line for hours IL was
Rinexcusable that the additional booths that
had been promised were not provided That
would have solved in part the difficult prob
lem and added many votes to the Demo
/ cratic majority. The negligence demands
IN explanation from the persons responsible
All In ALL it was a grea; day, and when
/ The next election rolls around conditions
| viii have been smootheo out, perhaps the
tfty redistricted. and yesterdays delays,
COMMISSIONS and disappointments will have
| IMAM on mt t,,.,,x
las proved that she did want the vote. tina,
She would use 1t. that she is not inferior
t6man in the political game. lie, her be
\accspted from this day forth "a a real Amer
can citizen, entitled 10 the same political
tights and benefits as her brother voter.