Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-01
Women at the Polls.
(The No. .American.)

Last weeks primary election
marked the first occasion upon which
the lately enfranchised women of
Pennsylvania had a chance to exer-
else their individual Judgment in the
selection of candidates for public
office. The right to vote ,came to
them last year on the eve of the No
venlber election. after the nominal
tons for the presidency. congress and
the legislature had been made--so
late that for them the choice lay he
tween parties and not between candi-
dates of the same party.
The apathy which traditionally en-
velops the voters of PENNSYLVANIA in
offyear elections was more pro-
nounced than ever during the recent
campaign; and of the 100 900 citi-
zens who failed 20 register. majority
were women. Hundreds of thousands
Of women, however. did vote, and
their ballots were sufficiently nun1er
Gus in all election districts to provide
a fairly accurate indication Of the
tendencies which will influence the
course of women in political affairs
in the future.
An interesting fact disclosed by
the results is that they neither con-
frnned the fears of the professional
politicians who fought against equal
suffrage nor fulfilled the expectations
of overzealous advocates of the
change. In no conspicuous instance
did the women. as these groups had
considered likely. rise up and snlite
the corrupt machine. Their voting
inclinations were in general those
which had been foreseen by impartial
supporters of the suffrage cause
The outstanding fact revealed by
the returns everywhere is that the
women divided to a very great extent
on the lines followed by the men vot-
ers. This was the case not only in
respect to registration under party
titles. but also in the support Of
candidates. In both strongly Re-
publican and Democratic counties and
districts the party which was domi-
nant swelled its ma iority. while in
those where the margin either way is
customarily small the lead was in
creased.
Nowhere was there any substantial
evidence Of revolt by the women
against corrupt or inefficient party
organization In Philadelphia. where
the contractors put up full ticket
with the backing of the oreaniza ton,
and in Pittsburgh and Scranton, the
machines won. In Delaware county,
ha
Clure liquor gang has become so
notorious as to be almost a state
wide Issue. and there is in conse-
quence a strong orea nized anti ma =
chine sentiment: vet the Mcclure
forces captured the chief prize. nomi-
mating their choice for a iudgeship.
Chester county. where an enlightened
American population includes a
stanch Quaker element always favor
able to woman suffrage. indorses
Boss Eyre by nominating his slated
candidates. In no part of the state
was boss Of bad repute overthrown
by the newly enfrancllised voters.
In several judicial contests. how
ever. especially those in which the
choice was between wet" and dry
candidates. the women voters were a
decisive or important factor. In a
remarkably large number of contests
for school directorsllips they were
successful in bringing about the
nominations of women or in defeating
men who were using their connection
with the public school system as a
political asset 4