The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
Frederic Haskin's Letter


States congress, for examn,.
likewise the Kenyon-Fess bin .ad
tanning . large appropriate 's -
the teaching Of home ecnncn. w
They want better salaries ma
school teachers: medical e.a~;. 70
tons for all school children
the provision Of hot lunche, 'a0
every public school. The Leerr. ~
Women Voters is in favor q sv "
protecting women and childrs,
industry. 1t is constantly vorI;. y
for q better and cheaper food any,
ply. 1t has started a widesorsaa
campaign for the unifcation =,
laws in all states, especially l,v.
relating to marriage and divorce
The chief function Of the les.r.
is the promotion of political educ.
ton. 1t conducts classes in Amsri
can citizenship, in election laws and
methods, and in special laws c r.a
corning women. Mass meetings Az.
constantly held under its auspices
for the non-partisan discussion nj
proposed legislation and other MAT.
F, tiers Of public interest.
| Are these activities a menace, In
answer TO the governors char,s
! the New York League Of Womsn
Voters submitted the follovins m.
barrassing questions:
heckling the Goyernor
"The chief work Of the Lesxue q,
Women Voters is educating voters
; especially women. Does not ths
/ Republican party want an intelli.
gent electorate?
I'VE, believe that voters should
study the public questions in an
unprejudiced way. Therefore We
offer a non-partisan platform for
their discussion, in which we vel
come both Republican and Demo-
cratic speakers. Does the Republi-
can party prefer that the voters
should accept partisan view with
out knowing anything about the
subject?
I'VE insist that public Office
should be given to the man who
will best serve the public, and not
in payment for party service. We
believe that true economy will re-
suit when public Office is regarded
not as party spoils, but as public
trust. Does the Republican party
disagree with this?
I'VE believe that unthinking SUBJ
mission to the dictates of the small
groups which habitually control
our dominant parties would be a
menace 20 our country's future
Does this belief preclude our work.
ing with the Republican party?
You deny our right to work as
a group outside of the political
party for political measures, and
you say that all non-partisar
groups which seek to affect legis
lation and the choice of candidates
are a menace to the welfare of the
country. Do you include in this
such groups as the State Charities
| Aid, the Dairymen's League, thu
Grange, the Citizens Union, the
1 Bar Association, the American lie
! gion and the Manufacturers Asso
citation? Or are We menace onl!
because we are women
So far, the governor has made NJ
reply to these interrOgatiOnS. Blu
the machinery of the Republican
party has been set in motion
against the league in all parts 0
the state. Party Office is being de
MED to women who are meL.bers o
i the league, while Republican offic
ials are Selling every Opportunit
to prevent women from joining tn
organization.
! Far from being discouragint
however, this campaign is provln
highly beneficial to the league.
has simply served to change .th
luke-warm and half-hearted anon
. its own ranks into ardent defend
!; ers, and to attract thousands
. new members to its banner.
After all a governor makes a
excellent press agent" unused
, New York woman voter, the otht
, morning, as she checked long Ii!
, of new subscriptions. If this rus
; of new members keeps up, the me-
thing you know we will be presen
ing him with a loving cup"