The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-28
SAUCE FOR THE GANDER.

SAUCE FOh IdE OANDEn.
The St. Petersburg Times has long professed to be
advocate of Woman Suffrage and so one naturally
looks to the editcsial page Of that newspaper for
leadership suffrage issues.
The Times editorials are always interesting but an
editorial In its columns recently, Woman In Poll
tics" is somewhat diverting than possible was
intended:
AThs Daily Times is glad to women
taking an active hand in politics and to see
woman candidate In the field. Now Is the
time, however, that another principle which
this paper holds in regard to womans posi-
tion In public life should be q little more
fully presented than it has been in the past
1--WE have felt that when woman assumed
her place mans equal in citizenship and
its responsibilities she should do SO fully and
completely. We have felt that she should not
be opposed because she is a woman and that
she should not be supported merely because
OF her In truth and in fact, our position
is that when women enters the field Of poll
tics she is unsexed and becomes merely a
citizen, taxpayer and applicant for office.
submitting her candidacy upon her merits"
II women were very deeply concerned about the
suffrage waddle that Of the newspapers carry,
the editorial in the Times might almost create scorn.
as 1t is. the women will probably find 1t amusing
Why, in the name of all that is fair and common
any than It unsexes to cast his ballot?
The Times evidently forgets that what is for
the gander is also sauce for the goose
All things being equal, men will most certainly give
their preference,to candidate. Then all things
being equal. why may not woman just as fairly
and reasonably. give her vote to woman candi-
date2
man, editor of West Florida newspaper, meet
ing woman who has long interested herself in suf
frage. recently said to her: WELL 1t looks though
you will soon have chance to vote"
The pleasantly replied that it did. and then
remarked that she understood from an editorial in
the Tampa Tribune that the women would be ELI
gible voters. though the ratification came so
late to make it impossible for them to pay poll
tax, and after the registration book had closed
"Of course" she said. II not familiar with the
law which would control this. but have been told
that this is correct"
How eagerly did the gentleman seize his advan-
tage? He took much pains to point out how alb
soutely necessary 1t for her familiar with
the laws Of Florida II she wanted to vote He talked
at some length. And she listened politely and then
said And you familiar with these laws?" He
foundered turned a bit red. and said that he was
not.
lone of the highest compliments you men pay US"
said the suffragst lis that you feel that the obga-
tion the ballot places upon the OF this coun-
try is so much greater than the obligation which 1t
places upon the men"
The fact of the matter is that suffrage nothing
more nor less than the expression of an opinion or
conviction, in such terms make that expression of
real public value.
There is more reason why a woman should be
unsexed by voting than by performing any other
public duty
In the states where have the ballot it has
had the effect Of spurring to keener realiza-
ton Of their voting privileges But far It has not
unsexed the women, and will. Why should 1t 2