The Republican journal., 1922-09-21
Miss Robertson Chairman of State
Convention.

Miss Alice NJ. Robertson, Representa-
! tive in Congress from Oklahoma, has
broken another record Not only has she
delivered the only Protective Tariff speech
ever delivered by woman in Congress,
but she is the first woman who ever acted
as Chairman of a State Convention of a
National political party.
Although Representative Robertson did
not discuss political issues in her address
accep ing the nomination as Chairman of
the Republican State Convention of Okla
bona, yet her address was so character
istic and has so much of the "human
touch'-and, we may add, of the "wo-
manly touch"-that it is worthy of re-
production, as follows:
81 accept with reverent gratitude the
honor which you have conferred upon
me. not as an individual but as a recogni-
ton of "a new element in American govern
ment. was born in this state, of pioneer
missionary psrentage, the descendant of
ten generations of Presbyterian ministers,
with no drop of blood in my veins which
did not flow through that of exies who
came to found religious and political free
dom in a new country, and who were
soldiers of the Revolution.
"Yet, with this ancestry, pioneer wo-
man by necessity doing a mans WORK
from my early girlhood, | was strong
anti-suifra gist Never having had shelf
cred life of the home woman, that life
seemed always to me the highest privi-
lege of humanity.
six years ago ran for county superin-
tendent of schools on the Republican
ticket, because the school is the compile
ment of the home; the teachers carry out
the mothers work, and women. feel,
should hold offices in the school manage
ment, district, county and state. AT that
time was elected delegate to the state
convention and scornfully refused to at
tend, taking the ground that women had
no place at such a gathering
"You know the story of the intervening
years: How the war came; how the men
went to the firing line, and the women
stayed at home, not merely to weep and
pray, but to work and take up what had
heretofore been considered mans work
exclusively. So suffrage came by the
vote of men-not women.
" | did not want the war nor did any
one but the war came; did not want suf-
frage, but the Lord sent it; and it became
our duty as women citizens to take up the
work so few of us had asked for. Wo-
men now must not be slackers; they must
take their places quietly, unobtrusively, as
earnest lovers of home and country, and
help save for the world American liberty
and freedom.
81 speak to you to lay as one who has
tried to live according to my oath OF office.
and to stand upon my firm platform.
am a Christian, American, Republican
not following fads; not voting for any
class legislation; not even that OF sex
but try to keep a straight, unwaverinl
path.
'As in my case, so you will find it to be
with the majority of women. They will
not push forward; they will not rush into
share of the government. They wan
70 be asked for. They will not sacrifict
Their feminlnity in the new duties. nc
they may not be depended upon in politics
unless man with chivalry and faith ant
loyalty, as in choosing life partners, will
call women into this new place in Govern
ment. The Republican party realizes this
ana my election today | accept as thu
strongest possible proof of the Statement
IAN making. thank YOU"